Lyon County Sheriff: Fernley residence target of early morning 'swatting' prank
On May 15th, 2024, shortly after midnight, deputies with the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office responded to a residence located on the 600 block of Angela Street in Fernley, Nev., reference a caller who reported that he had murdered his mother. The caller additionally provided that he barricaded himself inside the house, was armed with a rifle, and had planted pipe bombs at the residence.
Responding deputies established a perimeter around the residence, and announcements were given through a patrol vehicle’s Public Announcement (PA) speaker for them to exit the house. Shortly afterward, a resident who appeared was safely detained and questioned. After speaking with the resident, deputies conducted a welfare check on the other occupants of the home, and concluded the call was a hoax (or “swatting” call).
Swatting is a dangerous prank where someone falsely reports a serious emergency that results in a heavily armed police response, often involving SWAT teams (hence the term "swatting"). Swatting incidents can have severe consequences, including injury or even death, as they create highly stressful and potentially dangerous situations for both the victims and law enforcement officers involved.
If you find yourself in a situation where you are either the victim of a swatting, or are being targeted by a swatting attempt, it is crucial to stay as calm and composed as possible while interacting with responders. Stay calm, follow instructions, keep your hands visible at all times, avoid making sudden movements, and provide authorities with any relevant information you may have, such as possible suspects or evidence that could help them investigate the incident.