At least 5 slain in Florida bank

Alleged gunman gives up when SWAT bursts in

At least five people were “senselessly murdered” Wednesday after a gunman took hostages in a Florida bank, forced them to the floor and began shooting, authorities said.

Sebring police chief Karl Hoglund and Highlands County Sheriff Paul Blackman briefed reporters but declined to elaborate on the motive for the shooting around noon at the SunTrust bank in Sebring, about 94 miles southeast of Tampa.

The suspect was identified by Hoglund as Zephen Xaver, 21, a Sebring resident. A photo published by the Highlands News-Sun shows police taking a handcuffed white man, wearing a T-shirt and khaki shorts, from the scene.

“It’s been a tragic day in our community,” Hoglund said. “We have suffered a significant loss at the hands of a senseless criminal doing a senseless crime.”

He said “at least” five people were “senselessly murdered” in the ordeal. It wasn’t clear whether the victims were bank employees or customers.

The gunman apparently entered and locked the bank, then forced customers to lie on the floor.

The county SWAT team was sent in after the gunman, who had barricaded himself inside, refused to negotiate with officers.

After the SWAT team burst inside, the gunman surrendered, Blackman said.

Police were alerted to the incident by a man identified as Victor Sparks who found the bank locked when he tried to enter to make a deposit. When he peered inside, Sparks told the Highlands News-Sun, he saw people on the floor and someone walking among them. He told the newspaper he heard a bang as he dashed off to call 911.

Aerial footage streamed by WFLA showed the front of the bank severely damaged.