SEBRING, Fla. (AP) — A man accused of fatally shooting five women at a small-town bank in Florida had dreamed of hurting classmates in high school and had long been fascinated with killing, police and a former girlfriend said Thursday. The slayings did not appear to be part of a robbery, and Zephen Xaver had no apparent connection to the SunTrust branch or the four employees and one customer who were killed Wednesday, police said. "We believe it was a random act," Sebring Police Chief Karl Hoglund said Thursday at a news conference. "Aside from perhaps driving by and seeing it was a bank, we have no known evidence that he targeted this bank for any particular reason." If the gunman had driven 10 seconds farther, just one more driveway, the victims might have been Carol Davis, who manages a hair salon and spa, and her staff and customers. "He could have come here. He could have gone anywhere. It could happen anywhere," Davis said. Xaver, 21, was charged Thursday with five counts of premeditated murder. Just months ago, he moved from northern Indiana to Sebring, about 80 miles southeast of Tampa. He had recently quit his job as a prison guard trainee. From police and witness accounts, he entered the bank about 12:30 p.m. when the five women were alone. The bank stands apart along U.S. 27, a busy four-lane highway in Sebring, a tourist and retirement city of 10,000 known for an annual endurance auto race that draws some of the world's top drivers. The victims were found lying face down, their bodies surrounded by shell casings, according to court documents. Six minutes after the attack began, Xaver called 911 and told dispatchers that he had killed everyone inside, Hoglund said. Davis said she looked out her window and saw police officers everywhere, many carrying rifles. "I have never seen stuff like that except in the movies." Xaver refused to surrender and would not allow officers to reach the victims, Hoglund said. After more than an hour of negotiations, a SWAT team used an armored vehicle to break through the front doors. Xaver was found in a back office, and all the victims were dead, the chief said. Story continues On Thursday, an Indiana police department released a 2014 report in which Xaver, then 16, said he had dreams of hurting other students in a classroom. The report from the Bremen Police Department said Bremen High School Principal Bruce Jennings contacted police on Feb. 20, 2014, after Xaver reported having the dream the previous night and again during a nap at school. The report said Xaver's mother agreed to take him to a behavioral health center. Police took no further action. Authorities also released log entries of other incidents involving Xaver, including one in March 2017, when Michigan State Police advised that a girl was receiving messages from Xaver that indicated he was "possibly thinking of suicide by cop and taking hostages." Alex Gerlach, who identified herself as Xaver's former girlfriend, said he's long been fascinated with the idea of killing, but no one took her warnings about him seriously. For some reason, he "always hated people and wanted everybody to die," Gerlach told WSBT-TV in South Bend, Indiana, near his former home in Plymouth, Indiana. "He got kicked out of school for having a dream that he killed everybody in his class, and he's been threatening this for so long, and he's been having dreams about it and everything," she said. "Every single person I've told has not taken it seriously, and it's very unfortunate that it had to come to this." Gerlach told The Washington Post that Xaver said he purchased a gun last week and "no one thought anything of it" because he had always liked guns. Xaver had no apparent criminal record in the areas where he's lived in Indiana and Florida. Police identified three of the victims: customer Cynthia Watson, 65, and two bank employees: 55-year-old Marisol Lopez and 38-year-old Ana Pinon Willliams, a mother of seven. Tim Williams said his sister-in-law was a devout Christian "and family to everyone she knew." She had recently started working at the bank, and she quickly came to love the job and her co-workers, he said. "We do not know what was going on in the mind of the individual who committed this atrocious act, but we do know he was influenced by the darkness in this world," Williams said. "We will not try to understand the darkness, but with God's help we will overcome it." Lopez's family posted a note on their door asking not to be disturbed. The Associated Press could find no contact information for Watson's family. A fourth victim was identified when her husband spoke with NBC News. Maine Montague said he and his wife, 31-year-old Jessica Montague, had a 3-year-old child. In compliance with a newly passed victims' rights law in Florida, police withheld the name of the fifth victim at the family's request. Xaver was arrested in a beige T-shirt depicting the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. On Thursday, he wore a black-and-white striped prison uniform as he was appointed a public defender and ordered held without bond. His father said he's "heartbroken for the victims" and that his son "wasn't raised to be like this." "He's always been a good kid. He's had his troubles, but he has never hurt anyone ever before. This is a total shock," Josh Xaver told CNN. The AP sought interviews with both of Xaver's parents but received no immediate response. ___ Kay reported from Miami. Associated Press writers Freida Frisaro in Miami, Rick Callahan in Indianapolis and Randy Herschaft in New York contributed to this report.<doc-sep>The gunman who took over a Florida bank made the five women inside lie down on the lobby floor before shooting them in the back of their heads — a horrific attack that took just six minutes, police and court documents said Thursday. “I have shot five people,” Zephen Xaver, 21 said in a 911 call after unleashing his attack at 12:36 p.m. Wednesday, police said. About an hour later, authorities negotiating with Xaver realized he had no intention of letting them in to the SunTrust Bank branch in Sebring to care for any hostages — so they sent SWAT in, Police Chief Karl Hoglund told reporters. “[At that point] we hoped the victims were alive,” Hoglund said. But when agents entered the branch, they found the five women lying face down with gunshot wounds in the back of their heads, according to a police affidavit. “Unfortunately, all victims had succumbed to their injuries inside the bank,” Hoglund said. Agents found shell casings from a 9mm handgun strewn on the ground and the gunman in the back of the bank, the affidavit said. Two of the victims were identified Thursday as Cynthia Watson, the only customer in the bank, and Marisol Lopez, one of four employees. The families of the other three victims asked police that they not be identified. Police said they don’t know what Xaver’s motive was but said that he wasn’t specifically targeting the bank or anyone inside. It’s also unclear how long he had been planning the attack. There was no indication that the shooting was a bank robbery gone wrong, police said. State Attorney Brian Haas said that he would seek the maximum penalty allowed by law against Xaver, who has been charged with five counts of premeditated murder. The death penalty is still legal in Florida. With Post wires<doc-sep>Florida bank shooter 'fascinated with killing' Published 24 January 2019 image copyright CBS image caption Police responded after receiving a call from a man saying: "I've shot five people" A man accused of shooting dead five women at a Florida bank has long been fascinated with death and guns, a woman identifying herself as his former girlfriend has said. Zephen Xaver "for some reason always hated people and wanted everybody to die," Alex Gerlach told WSBT-TV. On Wednesday, Mr Xaver called police from the SunTrust bank in the town of Sebring to report the shooting. The 21-year-old surrendered after police stormed the bank, officials say. Police chief Karl Hoglund said at a news conference on Thursday authorities have no information about Mr Xaver's true motive at this time, but believe it was a random act of violence. He identified two of the victims as Cynthia Watson, a customer, and Marisol Lopez, a bank employee. The three other victims were also bank employees, but their families have requested that police not reveal their names. "We now begin the healing process," Mr Hoglund told reporters, voice heavy with emotion. "We attempt to make sense of a senseless act. We attempt to mourn the loss of our peers, our neighbours, our mothers and daughters." What do we know about the suspect? Mr Xaver has been charged with five counts of premeditated murder. He was denied bond and remains in custody. Prosecutors will seek the maximum penalty. Mr Xaver worked as a trainee prison officer with the Florida Department of Corrections, according to officials. There were no issues during his employment, but he resigned abruptly in January. Speaking on Thursday, Ms Gerlach said that nobody had taken seriously previous threats made by her former boyfriend. "He got kicked out of school for having a dream that he killed everybody in his class, and he's been threatening this for so long, and he's been having dreams about it and everything," Ms Gerlach told WSBT-TV. "Every single person I've told has not taken it seriously, and it's very unfortunate that it had to come to this," she added. image copyright Reuters image caption Zephen Xaver barricaded himself in the bank and then began shooting, police say She was also quoted by the Washington Post as saying that last week Mr Xaver told her he had bought a gun. But she added that "no-one thought anything of it" because he had always liked guns. What is known about Wednesday's shooting? The incident took place just after 12:30 (17:30 GMT) in Sebring, about 80 miles (130km) south of Orlando. Police Chief Hoglund said officers responded after the suspect called 911 from inside the bank and said: "I have shot five people". The suspect, Mr Xaver, had barricaded himself in the branch and forced people to lie on the floor before he began shooting, they added. When police arrived, they attempted to negotiate with Mr Xaver but it appeared he would not allow responders access to the victims. Mr Hoglund then directed a Swat team to enter the bank. Mr Xaver surrendered and was taken into custody, but by then, the five women had died as a result of their injuries. Police say they were the only five people in the bank at the time and there are no known connections between any of the victims and the suspect. "This horrific incident shocks and angers me more than anything I have encountered in my career," said local sheriff Paul Blackman. SunTrust CEO Bill Rogers said in a statement the company was "deeply saddened by the tragic shooting". We're deeply saddened by the tragic shooting at our Sebring, FL branch. We're working with law enforcement & are dedicated to supporting the people & families impacted by this horrible & senseless tragedy. Our entire team mourns this terrible loss. -Bill Rogers, Chairman & CEO — SunTrust (@AskSunTrust) January 23, 2019 The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. View original tweet on Twitter<doc-sep>The suspect allegedly entered the bank and killed everyone inside before calling 911 Police do not know the motive of the suspect who allegedly entered a bank and shot the five people inside, all of them women. Shortly after 12 p.m. on Wednesday, 21-year-old Zephen Xaver allegedly walked into a SunTrust bank branch on U.S. 27 in Sebring with the intention to kill, Sebring Police Chief Karl Hoglund said at a press conference Thursday. Get push notifications with news, features and more. Upon entering, Xaver allegedly took over the branch with force and opened fire on all five people inside. He then allegedly called 911 and “told dispatchers that he’d killed everyone in the bank,” Hoglund said. Minutes later, first responders arrived on the scene and made contact with Xaver inside. He was allegedly holding the victims hostage and would not let authorities in to give them necessary medical attention, said Hoglund. After several failed attempts to convince Xaver to let the women go, authorities sent a SWAT team in and the 21-year-old surrendered. But it was too late for the victims, who succumbed to their injuries before police entered, an emotional Hoglund said Thursday. “Our community suffered a tremendous loss at the hands of a heinous criminal. Zephen Xaver knowingly and intentionally took the lives of five of our fellow community members, our sisters, our mothers, our daughters and our coworkers,” said Hoglund, saying the women were “victims of a senseless crime.” SunTrust Bank1901 US Hwy 27 S, Sebring, FL 33870Credit: Google Maps Credit: Google Maps Xaver has been charged with five counts of first-degree murder and prosecutors will be seeking the maximum penalty, said Hoglund. The names of three victims were released Thursday: Ana Piñon-Williams, 38, Cynthia Watson, 65, and Marisol Lopez, 55. Watson was a customer in the bank while Lopez and Piñon-Williams were bank employees. The families of the other victims, who were employees, asked officials to not release their loved ones’ information in accordance with a new law that allows for the shielding of victims. “We will never forget Ana, she will forever live in our hearts and minds,” Piñon-Williams brother-in-law, Tim Williams, said at a press conference, according to news outlet WTSP. “Her life was truly a light in this world, she made it a better place. We are determined to let Ana’s memory be marked by the life she lived, the people she loved, and the difference she made.” Bank Shooting Florida - 23 Jan 2019 Zephen Xaver | Credit: AP/REX/Shutterstock • Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter. On Thursday morning, Xaver appeared in court but did not enter a plea, ABC News reports. He had moved from Indiana to Florida last fall and up until earlier this month, was training to be a prison guard with the Florida Department of Corrections. His attorney information was not available Thursday. There is no known connection between Xaver and the victims or bank. “We believe it is a random act,” Hoglund said. “We are still trying to establish the gravity and nature as to why this occurred.” Security footage from inside the bank is currently being reviewed by investigators, Hoglund said.<doc-sep>
The former prison guard who confessed to fatally shooting five women in a Florida bank Wednesday had no connection to his victims or the bank, police said. Sebring Police Chief Karl Hoglund said officials don't know why 21-year-old Zephen Xaver targeted the SunTrust Bank branch and “shot everyone in the bank.” He said at a news conference Thursday that Xaver entered the bank around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday with a gun and opened fire, killing four female employees and one customer inside the bank at the time. No one else was inside the bank. “After shooting them, he called 911 [and] told dispatchers that he’d killed everyone in the bank,” Hoglund said. FLORIDA BANK SHOOTING LEAVES AT LEAST 5 DEAD, SUSPECT SURRENDERED: POLICE When police arrived at the scene, the doors were locked and Xaver would not allow authorities into the building after more than an hour of negotiations. Eventually, Xaver surrendered to authorities. By the time a SWAT team breached the building “all the victims had succumbed to their injuries,” Hoglund said. A police affidavit said all five women were found lying face down in the bank’s lobby with gunshot wounds to the back of their heads. Shell casings from the Xaver’s 9 mm handgun were scattered on the floor. The SWAT team found Xaver in an office in the rear of the building and he was taken into custody without incident. He has been charged with five counts of premeditated murder. He was ordered held without bond Thursday. Hoglund identified two of the victims as Cynthia Watson, a 65-year-old bank customer, and Marisol Lopez, a 55-year-old bank employee. A third victim, 38-year-old Ana Pinon-Williams, was identified later Wednesday during a news conference held by her brother-in-law Tim Williams. “Her life was truly a light in this world, she made it a better place,” he said of Pinon-Williams. “We are determined to let Ana’s memory be marked by the life she lived, the people she loved and the difference she made.” Pinon-Williams was a bank employee and was married with seven children. And, on Thursday night, a fourth victim was identified as 31-year-old Jessica Montague. Her husband, Maine, told NBC News the couple has a 3-year-old child. The fifth victim's identity was not yet known. FLORIDA BANK SHOOTING SUSPECT HAD 'FASCINATION WITH DEATH,' TALKED ABOUT KILLING BEFORE, FRIENDS SAY Police said Xaver, 21, had moved to Florida from Indiana less than a year ago and had been fired as a trainee prison guard at Avon Park Correctional Institution on Nov. 2. He resigned Jan. 9 and had no disciplinary issues, Florida Department of Corrections records show. A woman who identified herself as Xaver’s ex-girlfriend told a television station he had long been fascinated with the idea of killing people. Alex Gerlach told WSBT-TV, in South Bend, Indiana, that Xaver “for some reason always hated people and wanted everybody to die.” “He got kicked out of school for having a dream that he killed everybody in his class, and he’s been threatening this for so long, and he’s been having dreams about it and everything,” she said. “Every single person I’ve told has not taken it seriously, and it’s very unfortunate that it had to come to this.” Gerlach told The Washington Post that Xaver said he purchased a gun last week and "no one thought anything of it" because he had always liked guns. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP This was at least the fourth mass shooting in Florida, with five or more dead, in the last three years. A gunman killed 49 at an Orlando nightclub in 2016, five died at the Fort Lauderdale airport in 2017 and 17 died in February at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in a Fort Lauderdale suburb. SunTrust Chairman and CEO Bill Rogers released a statement saying the bank was "working with officials and dedicating ourselves to fully addressing the needs of all the individuals and families involved." The bank's "entire team mourns this terrible loss," he said. Fox News' Paulina Dedaj and The Associated Press contributed to this report.