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UPDATE (4:35 p.m. EST): The shooting suspect has been identified as 21-year-old Zephen Xaver. Sebring Police Chief Karl Hoglund says that at least five people were killed in Xaver’s shooting spree.
Original article:
According to the Highland County Sheriff’s Office, at approximately 12:36 p.m., the Sebring Police Department responded to the SunTrust Bank at 1901 US 27 South in Sebring, Florida.
Reports indicate that “multiple” people have been shot and there is currently a large police presence on the scene. K-9 units and the SWAT team is also on the scene.
In a statement, the Highland County Sheriff’s Office said that an unidentified suspect contacted dispatch and reported that he had fired shots inside the bank.
After police received the call, Sebring Police Department officers and deputies from the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene and established a perimeter.
Additionally, the HCSO said that after negotiations to try to get the barricaded subject to exit the bank was unsuccessful, the HCSO SWAT team entered the bank and continued the negotiations. The suspect eventually surrendered to the HCSO SWAT team.
According to Sebring Mayor John Shoop, the shooter is currently alive and has exited the SunTrust Bank after surrendering. At this time, the extent of the injuries or fatalities is not known.
Police say that the hostage situation is currently confined to the bank and there is no danger to the surrounding area. US Route 27 continues to be closed in both directions from Golfview Drive to Lakeview Drive.
“We are working closely with officials and seeking to take care of everyone affected. We will provide more information as soon as we can,” said Sue Mallino, SunTrust’s Chief Communications Officer.
The Highlands County Sheriff’s Office has asked co-workers and family members of anyone who was at the Suntrust bank to go to the Inn on the Lakes at Golfview Road.
That is all the information available at this time. This article will be updated with new and relevant information should it become available.
