The Fairfax County Police confirmed Thursday that it responded to a “swatting” incident at the Virginia home of Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett on Wednesday night.
Swatting is when an individual calls 911 to report a knowingly false crime in order to trigger a massive police presence at a residence or place of business.
Police radio traffic showed law enforcement received a call for a “suspicious noise of gunshots” at Barrett’s suburban home, but the dispatcher warned that it could be fake given that a “high priority resident of the county” lived there.
“Yesterday evening at approximately 9:02 p.m., officers responded to a swatting call at the residence of U.S. Supreme Court Justice in Fairfax County,” the Fairfax County Police Department told The Hill. “The call was received through the department’s non-emergency line.
“Officers immediately coordinated with Supreme Court Police personnel assigned to the residence and quickly determined that the report was fictitious,” it continued. “No additional police resources were utilized.”
