Detectives are following up on leads after a person made a fake call claiming they killed their family, prompting an emergency response to a home in unincorporated Lake Villa Wednesday evening.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Lake Villa Police Department and Lake Villa Fire Protection District responded around 9:25 p.m. Wednesday to a home in the 24800 block of West North Road in unincorporated Lake Villa.
Lake County Sheriff’s Office Chief Christopher Covelli said a caller claimed he was 14-years-old and claimed he killed his entire family.
When sheriff’s deputies arrived, the caller changed his story and said he was going to start shooting members of his family.
Deputies made contact with the residents of the home and confirmed they were safe, Covelli said.
Fire/rescue personnel were staged in the area while deputies investigated.
Lake Villa police officers assisted deputies at the scene.
The situation is known as “swatting,” which is when a hoax call is made in an attempt to create a large emergency response – like SWAT teams – to a specific location.
Covelli said deputies and detectives have developed leads on a possible suspect who made the call.
“Sheriff’s deputies and detectives are furthering that aspect of the investigation,” Covelli said.