Unpaid credit card bill lawsuit preceded Citibank shooting, investigators say

11 deputies say an Orlando man is responsible for driving more than an hour, then going on a violent rampage at Citibank in Hillsborough County, killing one woman and hurting four others. Good evening and welcome. Tonight, for the Late News at 11, I'm Jack Royer. And I'm Luanne Sorrell. A hero security guard stopped that attack and killed the suspect. Investigators say it was all over an unpaid bill. Chancellor Wynn is joining us live tonight with more on this. So, Chancellor, you found where he was served with a lawsuit just a few days ago. Yeah, that's right, Luanne. We pulled documents from the Orange County Clerk of Courts website, and it shows that just last week that summons for the lawsuit was delivered to Jacob Pearson's address. And then investigators say on the morning of the shooting, Pearson called the collection's attorneys with a violent threat. Citibank vs. Jacob S. Pearson. That's the lawsuit we found filed in Orange County on October 23rd demanding $2,500 for an unpaid store credit card balance. Days later, on October 29th, court documents show a summons was delivered to Pearson's apartment. An employee at the complex says Pearson always paid his rent on time and never caused trouble. The Hillsborough County Sheriff says that all changed Wednesday morning when Pearson called the collection attorneys with an ultimatum. Want me to go over there with my AR-15, my bulletproof vest, and my insanity? You MF and cancel this court case. Citibank security flagged the threat and Orlando police rushed to Pearson's apartment to intercept him. But Pearson was already gone, armed with an AR-15, a handgun, and 90 rounds of ammunition. Pearson drove straight down I-4 and crashed through a gate at Citibank's Tampa campus. Let's get you guys out of here. Can you unlock it a little more for me? Pearson shot and killed HR employee Leanne Selman before an armed security guard shot and killed him. Back at the Orlando complex where that summons was served, neighbors like Kadesha Hopkins are struggling to comprehend how a gunman could live so close. You don't know who they are. You don't know what they can do, and anything can happen. And so the best thing is to not talk to strangers and just do what you're supposed to do. According to court documents in that lawsuit, Pearson was not facing immediate court action. His next scheduled appearance, which was a virtual hearing, was not scheduled until mid-February. Reporting live in Orlando, Chancellor Nguyen, Fox 35 News.