A text to 911 Redondo Beach emergency reporting shots fired at a residence, with injuries, proved false, officers learned upon arriving on scene last Friday, March 4, about 9:30 p.m.
An online gamer, said to be a professional, was live-streaming a game at the house in the 2600 block of Vanderbilt Lane when they received threatening text messages, allegedly from another gamer not allowed into the particular portal the resident played in.
Soon after, the 911 text came into Redondo Beach.
Responding officers asked all residents to exit the house.
“We rendered the location safe and determined it was a hoax,” said RBPD Lt. Fabian Saucedo.
Police do not know where the 911 text originated from, or whether it was even in the United States.
“It’s very easy for someone to block their number and hide where they are and who they are,” Saucedo said.
The incident appeared to be “swatting” – a dangerous con in which the goal is to send an armed emergency response to someone’s home. ER
