A gunman killed five people in a bank in central Florida, before calling police himself and eventually surrendering, according to authorities.

The shooting took place at a SunTrust Bank branch in Sebring, Florida, at about 12.30pm local time, Police Chief Karl Hoglund said at a news conference.

The 21-year-old suspect, identified as Zephen Xaver, called police and said he had fired shots inside the bank, according to authorities.

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After negotiators failed to convince the suspect to leave the bank, the Highlands County Sheriff's Office SWAT team entered the building and continued to talk to him, police said.

He eventually surrendered and is in custody. Police did not offer any details about a possible motive.

"This is a terrible day for Sebring, Highlands County and for the state of Florida," Governor Ron DeSantis said in a statement following the shooting.

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The front of the bank seems to have been damaged with doors ripped off their hinges, WFTS reported.

After the suspect was taken into custody, police said there was no longer any danger to people in the surrounding area. However, local businesses close to the bank and two nearby schools were instructed to be put on conditional lockdown.

"We are working closely with officials and seeking to take care of everyone affected," SunTrust's Chief Communications Officer Sue Mallino told CNN. "We will provide more information as soon as we can."

Sebring is in central Florida. It is located about two hours south of Orlando.</s>Gunman surrenders after killing five people at Florida bank

Gunman surrenders after killing five people at Florida bank

Zephan Xaver is accused of murdering five people in Sebring, Florida.

Five people have been killed at a bank in Florida after a gunman opened fire.

The gunman, identified as Zephan Xaver, 21, called police after firing shots inside the SunTrust bank in Sebring, Florida, and eventually surrendered.

Karl Hoglund, Sebring police chief, said the shooting happened at about 12.30pm ET (17.30GMT).

Xaver called police to tell them he had fired shots, according to authorities.

Negotiators failed to convince him to leave the bank, at which point the Highlands County Sheriff's Office SWAT team entered the building and continued to speak to him.

He surrendered and is in custody. His motive is not clear.

Mr Hoglund said: "Today has been a tragic day in our community.

"We've suffered significant loss at the hands of a senseless criminal doing a senseless crime."

No information has been released about the victims.

CNN reported there had been no danger to the surrounding areas.

Ron DeSantis, Florida governor, said he was asking the state department of law enforcement to help local police.

Sue Malliano, a spokesman for the SunTrust bank, said: "We are working closely with officials and seeking to take care of everyone affected at our Sebring, Florida branch."</s>In the United States, a gunman has killed at least five people at a bank in Sebring, Florida. The gunman – named as Zephen Xaver, 21, had barricaded himself in the branch, forced people to lie on the floor and began shooting. Xaver, called police from inside the SunTrust Bank branch to report that he had opened fire. He surrendered after officers stormed the bank. The motive for the shooting remains unclear.T he investigation is ongoing.

The US is plagued by frequent mass shootings and other gun violence. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, gun violence killed nearly 40,000 people in 2017.</s>Fedorovekb/iStock(SEBRING, Fla.) — At least five people wre killed when a gunman opened fire in a SunTrust Bank in Sebring, Florida, on Wednesday, police said.

The 21-year-old suspect barricaded himself inside before later surrendering to authorities, police said.

The suspect had contacted authorities and told them that he fired shots inside the bank, sending officers rushing to the scene, the Sebring Police Department said.

Negotiations to get the barricaded suspect to leave weren’t successful, police said, so a SWAT team was sent in. Negotiations then continued, police said, and the “suspect eventually surrendered.”

Police did not immediately release information on possible injuries to the suspect or others, but Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis tweeted, “Please continue to keep the victims and their families in your prayers.”

“The situation is confined to the bank and there is no danger to the surrounding area,” police said.

Sebring is located about 90 miles south of Orlando.

A SunTrust Bank spokesperson said, “We are working closely with officials and seeking to take care of everyone affected at our Sebring, Florida branch.”

This story is developing. Please check back for more updates.</s>This post was originally published on this site

U.S. NEWS At least 5 dead in shooting at Florida bank, suspect in custody: Police https://linewsradio.com/at-least-5-dead-in-shooting-at-florida-bank-suspect-in-custody-police/ http://abcnewsradioonline.com/national-news/

Fedorovekb/iStock(SEBRING, Fla.) — At least five people were killed when a gunman opened fire in a SunTrust Bank in Sebring, Florida, on Wednesday, police said.

The 21-year-old suspect, Zephen Xaver, barricaded himself inside before later surrendering to authorities, police said.

The suspect had contacted authorities and told them that he fired shots inside the bank, sending officers rushing to the scene around 12:30 p.m., the Sebring Police Department said.

Negotiations to get the barricaded suspect to leave weren’t successful, police said, so a SWAT team was sent in. Negotiations then continued, police said, and the “suspect eventually surrendered.”

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis tweeted, “Please continue to keep the victims and their families in your prayers.”

Police said the situation was “confined to the bank and there is no danger to the surrounding area.”

Sebring is located about 90 miles south of Orlando.

SunTrust CEO Bill Rogers said in a statement, “We are deeply saddened by the tragic shooting at our Sebring, Florida branch this afternoon.”

“We are working with officials and dedicating ourselves to fully addressing the needs of all the individuals and families involved,” Rogers said. “Our entire team mourns this terrible loss.”</s>SEBRING, Fla. — Multiple people were shot in a hostage situation at a SunTrust Bank in Sebring, Florida, according to Highlands County Commissioner Don Elwell.

Elwell confirmed there were injuries in the incident. The suspect has been taken into custody, police said.

It was unclear if those injured were bank employees or customers inside the bank during the incident.

Overhead video of the scene from CNN affiliate WFLA showed a heavy police presence, several ambulances and a large SWAT vehicle. Medical personnel entered the bank after the glass entrance to it was destroyed.

The incident began when a man called police at 12:36 p.m. and said he had fired shots inside the bank, according to police. Sebring Police and Highlands County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the scene, according to police.

Initial negotiations to try to get the barricaded subject to exit the bank were not successful, so a SWAT team entered the bank and continued negotiations. The suspect eventually surrendered to the SWAT team, police said.

There was no danger to the surrounding area, police said. US-27 was shut down in both directions near the bank due to the incident. Law enforcement officials will provide more details at a 4:30 p.m. ET news conference, Elwell said.

Both the FBI and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement are assisting in the case. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis tweeted that he spoke with Highlands County Sheriff Paul Blackman and FDLE Commissioner Rick Swearingen and offered them all the support they may need.

Two area hospitals, Highlands Regional Medical Center and Florida Heartland hospital, said they have not received any patients from the shooting.

“We are working closely with officials and seeking to take care of everyone affected,” said SunTrust’s Chief Communications Officer Sue Mallino. “We will provide more information as soon as we can.”

Family members, co-workers, and friends looking to reunite with loved ones after the incident were gathering at the nearby Inn on the Lakes, according to Yanique Blackellar, the front desk manager of the inn.

Sebring is in Highlands County in the south-central part of the state, and had a population of just over 10,000 people as of the 2010 US Census. The SunTrust Bank is along US-27, between Lake Jackson and Little Lake Jackson.</s>Fedorovekb/iStock(SEBRING, Fla.) — A suspect fired gunshots at a SunTrust Bank in Sebring, Florida, on Wednesday and barricaded himself inside before later surrendering to authorities, local police said.

The suspect had contacted authorities and told them that he fired shots inside the bank, sending officers rushing to the scene, the Sebring Police Department said.

Negotiations to get the barricaded suspect to leave weren’t successful, police said, so a SWAT team went inside. Negotiations then continued, police said, and the “suspect eventually surrendered.”

Police did not immediately release information on possible injuries for the suspect or others.

“The situation is confined to the bank and there is no danger to the surrounding area,” police said.

Sebring is located about 90 miles south of Orlando.

A SunTrust Bank spokesperson said, “We are working closely with officials and seeking to take care of everyone affected at our Sebring, Florida branch.”



This story is developing. Please check back for more updates.</s>A gunman killed five people in a bank in central Florida on Wednesday, then called police himself and eventually surrendered, local authorities said.

A gunman killed five people in a bank in central Florida on Wednesday, then called police himself and eventually surrendered, local authorities said.

Gunman killed five people in bank in central Florida before calling police himself - reports

The shooting occurred at the SunTrust Bank in Sebring, a town of about 10,000 people 95 miles south of Orlando, around 12:30 pm ET (1730pm GMT), Sebring Police Chief Karl Hoglund said at a news conference.

The 21-year-old suspect, identified as Zephen Xaver, called police and said he had fired shots inside the bank, according to authorities.

After negotiators failed to convince the suspect to leave the bank, the Highlands County Sheriff's Office SWAT team entered the building and continued to talk to him, police said.

He eventually surrendered and is in custody. Police did not offer any details about a possible motive.

"Today has been a tragic day in our community," Hoglund said. "We've suffered significant loss at the hands of a senseless criminal doing a senseless crime."

No information has been released about the victims. It was not clear whether anyone was wounded.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said he has asked the state's department of law enforcement to assist local police officials in the investigation.

A spokeswoman for the bank, Sue Mallino, said, "We are working closely with officials and seeking to take care of everyone affected at our Sebring, Florida branch."</s>FLORIDA — Highlands County Commissioner Don Elwell said that multiple people have been shot in a “hostage situation” at a SunTrust Bank in Sebring, Florida.

Elwell confirmed there were injuries in the incident. It was unclear if those injured were bank employees or customers inside the bank during the incident.

Overhead video of the scene from CNN affiliate WFLA shows a heavy police presence, several ambulances and a large SWAT vehicle. Medical personnel entered the bank after the glass entrance to it was destroyed.

The incident began when a subject called police at 12:36 p.m. and said he had fired shots inside the bank, and Sebring Police and Highland County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded, according to police.

Initial negotiations to try to get the barricaded subject to exit the bank were not successful, so SWAT team entered the bank and continued negotiations. The suspect eventually surrendered to the SWAT team, police said.

There is no danger to the surrounding area, police said. US-27 is shut down in both directions near the bank due to the incident.

“We are working closely with officials and seeking to take care of everyone affected,” said SunTrust’s Chief Communications Officer Sue Mallino. “We will provide more information as soon as we can.”

Family members, coworkers, and friends looking to reunite with loved ones after the incident are gathering at the nearby Inn on the Lakes, according to Yanique Blackellar, the front desk manager of the inn.

Sebring, Florida, located in Highlands County in the south-central part of the state, had a population of just over 10,000 people as of the 2010 US Census. The SunTrust Bank sits along US-27, between Lake Jackson and Little Lake Jackson.</s>The suspect has since surrendered after a SWAT team engulfed the bank following failed negotiations with the assailant.

Five people lost their lives after a hostage situation apparently went downhill at a SunTrust retail bank in Sebring here on Wednesday (local time).

"We were sorry to learn that we have at least five victims, people who were senselessly murdered as a result of his act in this bank," Sputnik quoted Sebring police chief Karl Hoglund as saying.

The suspect has since surrendered after a SWAT team engulfed the bank following failed negotiations with the assailant.

The exact number of the injured is yet to be announced by authorities. The reason behind the incident is not known as of now, while the identity of the assailant is yet to be revealed. Â

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement are helping in the case, according to CNN.Â More information is awaited.
A gunman kills five people at a SunTrust Banks branch in Sebring, Florida, United States, following a hostage situation. The suspect later surrenders himself to the authorities.