Zephen Allen Xaver was born on April 2, 1997, in Plymouth, Indiana. He grew up in the nearby town of Bremen. Not much is publicly known about his childhood, family life, or early interests. However, it is noted that he faced some challenges during his school years.

Xaver had a troubled time in high school. He struggled to make friends and felt isolated from his peers. After graduating from Bremen High School, he trained to become a correctional officer. He worked as a trainee at the Avon Park Correctional Institution in Florida. Xaver resigned from this position on January 9, 2019.

On January 23, 2019, at 12:32 pm, Zephen Allen Xaver entered the SunTrust Bank in Sebring, Florida. He was wearing a ballistic vest under his sweatshirt. Before entering, he sent a text to his girlfriend saying he was going to die that day and that he would kill people to see how it felt. Once inside, he approached a bank teller and pulled out a handgun. He ordered the bank teller and everyone else present to stand against a wall with their hands up. He then instructed the teller to lock the bank doors, which she did.

Xaver forced five women to lie on the floor with their heads toward the wall. At 12:35 pm, he shot all five women. After the shooting, he called the police at 12:36 pm and confessed to the shooting. While on the phone, he returned to the bodies and shot at them again. During the call, he indicated he might kill himself.

SWAT officers arrived at the scene and attempted to negotiate with him. Xaver claimed he was hearing voices telling him to kill. He stated that putting the gun to his head lessened the voices he was hearing. Eventually, a crisis negotiator persuaded him to put the gun down and surrender. Officers entered the bank after breaking down the front doors.

One bank employee escaped during the chaos by fleeing to the back when the shooting started. After getting outside, he called 911. Police found five women dead from gunshot wounds. The victims were Debra Cook, Marisol Lopez, Jessica Montague, Cynthia Watson, and Ana Piñon-Williams.

Following his arrest, Xaver was charged with five counts of capital murder and held without bond. As he had no income or assets, a public defender was appointed for him. On February 22, 2019, he pleaded not guilty. In March 2023, he changed his plea to guilty. A jury recommended the death penalty in June 2024. He was officially sentenced to death on December 16, 2024.