Officers investigating after receiving a fake call about a shooting
Police are investigating after receiving a fake phone call about a shooting.
Just after 1:30 p.m. yesterday, officers received a call claiming that a shooting just occurred at a home on Linwell Road between Ontario Street and Lakeport Road in St. Catharines.
Police say the caller reported someone had been shot several times and the shooter was still at the house.
The Emergency Task Unit, crisis negotiators, the K9 unit and Niagara EMS responded.
However, when emergency crews arrived, they discovered no shooting had taken place.
Investigators have determines this to be a swatting incident.
"Swatting is a deliberate and malicious criminal act that adds unnecessary risk to both our community members and first responders. For those unfamiliar with SWATTING, the objective is to direct substantial emergency services resources upon an unsuspecting community member by dialing 911 and reporting an extreme act of violence."
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS or Niagara Regional Police at 905-688-4111.
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