Florida bank attack claims 5 lives, gunman surrenders: Cops

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The gunman Zephen Xaver called police himself saying he fired shots inside the bank
The gunman Zephen Xaver called police himself saying he fired shots inside the bank

New Delhi : The sudden firing in central Florida Bank on Wednesday has led to the death of 5 people. A gunman who killed the people called police to inform them of the shooting before he surrendered, local authorities said.

The shooting took place at the SunTrust Bank in Sebring, a town of about 10,000 people 95 miles (153 km) south of Orlando, around 12:30 p.m. ET (1730 GMT), Sebring Police Chief Karl Hoglund said at a news conference.

Identified as Zephen Xaver, the 21-year-old suspect called 911 dispatchers and said he had shot five people inside the bank, according to authorities.

When cops entered the bank, the accused had barricaded himself inside but eventually surrendered, the Sebring Police Department said in a statement posted on Facebook. Meanwhile, the intention of gunman is yet to be known.

"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."

Police is yet to find the information about the victims on the bank. 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."

A spokeswoman for Stevens-Henager College in Utah said Xaver was an online student from September to December before he voluntarily withdrew.

Xaver lived for a time in northwest Indiana, local news in Indiana reported, citing social media accounts linked with the same name.

Sources confirmed that Xaver was hired in November to work at Avon Park Correctional Institution, a Florida Department of Corrections prison, before he resigned earlier this month, FloridaToday.com reported, citing state officials.

As of now, investigation is underway.