SEBRING, Fla. _ The man charged with murder in connection with a shooting that police say left at least five people dead inside a Florida bank will be held in jail without bond.
Zephen Xaver, 21, appeared before a judge via video conference Thursday morning facing five counts of murder. The judge ordered Xaver be held without bond.
Sebring police said they were contacted by Xaver just after 12:30 p.m. Wednesday; Xaver told police he fired shots inside the SunTrust Bank, 1901 U.S. 27 South.
The Highlands County Sheriff's Office SWAT team tried to negotiate with the subject, who was barricaded inside the bank and who police later identified as Xaver, but were not successful, according to police.
Xaver eventually surrendered to the SWAT team.
Sebring Police Chief Karl Hoglund said in a Wednesday afternoon news conference at least five people were "senselessly murdered."
The victims have not been identified. Police said they were the only five people in the bank at the time of the incident.
SunTrust CEO and Chairman Bill Rogers sent this statement to WFLA on Wednesday:
"We are deeply saddened by the tragic shooting at our Sebring, Florida, branch this afternoon. We are working with law enforcement officials and dedicating ourselves to supporting the people and families impacted by this horrible and senseless tragedy. Our entire team mourns this terrible loss."
According to the Associated Press, Xaver was a former prison guard trainee who had moved from Indiana to Florida. Citing Florida Department of Corrections, the AP reported Xaver was hired as a trainee prison guard at Avon Park Correctional Institution. He resigned from the position on Jan. 9, just two months after he was hired on Nov. 2. The AP reports no disciplinary issues.
News of the shooting rocked the community, Sebring Mayor John Shoop wrote in a letter to the community.
"As a result, five of our citizens lost their lives. Their loss weighs heavy on our hearts and we cannot imagine the pain their families and friends are feeling. We are a small, close-knit county. We live in a wonderful area and tragedies like this are not supposed to happen here. The world continues to change however, and events take place that simply have no explanation," Shoop wrote.
"Acts like this cannot deter us from living our lives freely from fear and deprivation. We need to continue to work together as a reminder of who we are and why we live here. We need to reach out with prayer and love for the victims and their families. The path turned dark today, but as we move on we will grow stronger."
