Florida shooting: Five killed as gunman, 21, storms bank and fires shots

At least five people were killed when a shooter stormed a bank in Florida.

The 21-year-old suspect, identified as Zephen Xaver, walked into the SunTrust Bank in Sebring just after 12:30pm local time.

Xaver, who is now in custody, immediately began shooting, Sebring Police Chief Karl Hoglund said at a news conference.

He then barricaded himself inside before calling police himself to say he had fired shots inside the bank, according to authorities.

A two hour stand off ensued and the Highlands County Sheriff's Office SWAT team entered the building after negotiators failed to convince the suspect to leave the bank. 

The SWAT team continued to talk to the gunman inside and he eventually surrendered, police said.

Dramatic footage shows emergency services surrounding the bank as pictures show the front doors have been blown in. 

“After an assessment of the scene, we were sorry to learn that we have at least five victims, people who were senselessly murdered as a result of his act in this bank,” Chief Hoglund said.

"Today has been a tragic day in our community.

"We've suffered significant loss at the hands of a senseless criminal doing a senseless crime."

Hoglund said the victims' families had not been notified and



didn't say whether there was a motive for the shooting.

Sebring is a town of about 10,000 people 95 miles south of Orlando.

No details about the victims have been released. It was not clear whether other people in the bank were injured.

Worried relatives of bank workers were asked to gather at a nearby hotel as they waited for news of their loved ones.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said: "The people of Florida stand with the community here in light of this tragic circumstance.

"I've asked FDLE to provide whatever resources we can at the state level to assist with the investigation and, obviously, this is an individual that needs to face very swift and exacting justice."

“We are deeply saddened by the tragic shooting at our Sebring, Florida branch this afternoon,” SunTrust CEO Bill Rogers said in a statement.

“We are working with officials and dedicating ourselves to fully addressing the needs of all the individuals and families involved. Our entire team mourns this terrible loss.”