A report of a child shot at a home in Beach Park prompted an emergency response and authorities say it was believed to be a “swatting” incident originating from an online video game.
A 911 dispatch center in Lake County received a telephone call on their non-emergency line around 7:50 p.m. Sunday.
The caller claimed they were 13 years old and that they shot their 9-year-old brother several times, according to Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli.
The caller provided dispatch with two different addresses in Beach Park.
Covelli said one of the addresses was in the 11600 block of West 33rd Street and another in the 11300 block of West 33rd Street.
Sheriff’s deputies went to both homes and at the first home, in the 11600 block, it was learned that the residence was vacant.
Deputies were able to contact the owner who gave permission to search the home to ensure no one was in danger inside, Covelli said.
Deputies also made contact with the family at the second home in the 11300 block.
Nobody was injured inside the home and there were no signs of a crime.
Covelli said two of the home’s occupants just finished playing Call of Duty where they were playing with others from across the country.
The two did not get into any arguments with any of the other players but it is believed someone they were playing against “swatted” them.
Swatting is making a call to law enforcement claiming there is a serious crime in progress at another person’s home when there is no actual emergency.
Sheriff’s detectives have been assigned to further investigate the case. Covelli said they will attempt to determine who placed the call and hold them accountable for it.