Vengeful gamer incites SWAT response with false shooting report

BY KIRO Radio Staff  on June 22, 2012 @ 6:08 am (Updated: 2:12 pm - 6/22/12 )

gamer.jpg
A 911 call that prompted a SWAT response in Kingston turned out to be a hoax sparked by a bitter online gamer. (AP Photo/file) | Zoom
A 911 call that prompted a SWAT response in Kingston turned out to be a hoax sparked by a bitter online gamer.

The false report indicated a father had shot his 14-year-old daughter after finding out she was pregnant.

"Certainly this is something that would get law enforcement's attention in a nano second," says Deputy Scott Wilson, with the Kitsap County Sheriff's Office.

The 911 caller reportedly told authorities that the father of the teen was walking around the house crazy with a gun.

When law enforcement responded to the home, Wilson says they were met with a very different scene.

"They saw the alleged shooter, in this case the father, was in the backyard of the residence just acting very, very normal."

Wilson says authorities took the man into custody and cleared the house.

"There was no injured or shot girl. There was no girl period, and everybody in the house was safe and fine," says Wilson. "Once this was discovered, the man of course was unhandcuffed."

It was at this time, Wilson says, that the man's 16-year- old son spoke up.

"His 16-year-old son said he believed he may have an answer to why this occurred, and this has to do with his Internet gaming."

The 16-year-old had reportedly been playing an online video game with somebody in British Columbia, but when the Canadian player was kicked off the gaming website, he set out to get back at the Kingston kid.

"He indicated to the kid that, 'I'm going to SWAT you, or I'm going to have your house swatted.' I'm going to report something to get law enforcement to respond to your house and we'll see if we can amp this up to get the SWAT team there," says Wilson.

The B.C. gamer could potentially face charges for the false report.

"We're in the process of investigating these TTY messages and trying to locate the person who sent them," says Wilson. "This is a potentially volatile situation and puts the public and officers at a degree of risk. You have a lot of vehicles coming from all over North Kitsap running with lights and sirens for a potential crime scene."

KIRO Radio Staff, Staff report
Straight from the newsdesk.
More Local News
Top Stories
MyNorthwest.com - Purpose of Comments statement
Bonneville Media encourages site users to express their opinions by posting comments. Our goal is to maintain a civil dialogue in which readers feel comfortable. At times, the comments can descend to personal attacks. Please do not engage in such behavior. We encourage your thoughtful comments which: have a positive and constructive tone, are on topic, are respectful toward others and their opinions. Bonneville reserves the right to remove comments which do not conform to these criteria.

Comments (10)


  • Add A Comment

  • CH wrote...
    Teach him . . . .
    June 22, 2012 6:43 am
    your a kop. Make sure you take your water gun.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • HPD 5-0 wrote...
    You are a total ignorant moron.
    June 22, 2012 6:54 am
    Please do not reproduce. The stupid gene must stop w/ you. You're also a pussy hiding behind a keyboard.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Glover W wrote...
    How did he get the address?
    June 22, 2012 7:56 am
    What's even more interesting is that the person who called the police and filed a false report was able to looking up the gamers profile and find his home address. This is a form of terrorism plain and simple. Calling the police and telling them that you want to report a voilent crime in an effort to get the police to respond with full force is one of the most awful things that can happen to an innocent person. It degrades peoples trust in our law enforcement community. It reduces the feeling of safety people have when they are in their homes. The gamer up in Canada should be charged for inciting terrorism and sent to jail if convited for a long time!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • manabouttown wrote...
    taken into custody?
    June 22, 2012 8:10 am
    So why was the man taken into custody when he was acting "very, very normal"?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • NWGUY wrote...
    for officer protection of course (gun in 911 call)
    June 22, 2012 1:15 pm
    I think it's odd that a 911 call from a different country doesn't raise any eyebrows. I think it's odd that there were no other calls about gunshots too. If the 911 call had been from the house, I wouldn't question the police's actions. but it wasn't, and apparently, it's enough to get them to arrest the guy while they conducted a search. (without a warrant, BTW)
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Nickatnyt wrote...
    So, does this mean that I can 'swat' anybody in Canada?
    June 22, 2012 9:36 am
    Yeah, I'm thinking not, because I doubt that Canadian law enforcement would be stupid enough to go busting down someone's door based on a call from the U.S. Sure, they might check it out to be on the safe side, but to go all out military on them wouldn't happen without proof.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CH wrote...
    0-0 wrote: You're also a pussy hiding behind a keyboard . . . .
    June 22, 2012 12:25 pm
    0-0 post your address or button it up. You got hair on yours?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • 333 wrote...
    CH
    June 22, 2012 1:00 pm
    post your address??? AJ used to say that? oh, i get it, you are AJ.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Daddy Dennis wrote...
    This story,,,
    June 22, 2012 10:03 pm
    Has copycat written all over it. I hope it does not get traction.

    Video games are taking a piece of our humanity away. If you'd like proof, check out olganon.org. Online Gamers Anonymous.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }