SEBRING, Fla. — Florida authorities said five women were killed when a gunman opened fire at a SunTrust bank in Sebring Wednesday.
Authorities released the names of two of the victims in an emotional news conference Thursday morning.
Authorities said Cynthia Watson, 54, and Marisol Lopez, 55, were among the dead. Watson was a customer at the bank and Lopez was an employee, officials said.
A third victim, Ana Pinon-Williams, was identified by family members as a mother of seven who worked at the bank.
"Her life was truly a light in the world. She made it a better place," her brother-in-law, Tim Williams, said.
The families of two other victims asked that they not be identified.
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Sebring Police Chief Karl Hoglund said that accused shooter Zephen Xaver, 21, went in to the bank Wednesday around 12:30 p.m.. "He then shot everyone in the bank," Hoglund said, through tears.
Hoglund said Xaver then called 911 and said he had killed 5 people.
Officials said they believe the act was random and they do not know of any connection between anyone at the bank and Xaver. They said that despite earlier reports, they don't believe Xaver intended to rob the bank.
SWAT teams were brought in to negotiate with Xaver, who eventually surrendered.
"Yesterday our world's were rocked by something that we can't even fathom here," one official said.
What we know about Zephen Xaver:
Xaver briefly was an online student of Salt Lake City-based Stevens-Henager College. A spokeswoman for the college, Sherrie Martin, confirmed that Xaver was enrolled from September 2018 until December, when he withdrew. She said his residence was listed as Sebring.
Florida Department of Corrections records show that Xaver was hired as a trainee prison guard at Avon Park Correctional Institution on Nov. 2 and resigned Jan. 9. No disciplinary issues were reported.
Xaver lived in a nicely-maintained, pre-fabricated home about 4 miles (6.5 kilometers) from the bank.
John Larose, who lives next door to Xaver’s home, said Xaver and his mother had moved in several months ago. Xaver kept to himself, but Larose said he could hear Xaver playing and yelling at video games in the middle of the night.
Cox Media Group
