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
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