Parkland Student David Hogg’s Home ‘Swatted’ By Prankster Claiming Hostage Situation
Police swarmed the Parkland, Florida home of gun control activist and shooting surivor David Hogg after a prankster called in a fake hostage situation, according to reports.
Hogg, who just graduated from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Sunday, was not at the home as the incident unfolded, according to ABC 10. He is currently with his mother in Washington, D.C. where he is being presented with the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award.
Upon receiving the emergency call, authorities jumped into action, even sending a police helicopter flying over the area.
When they found nothing, they realized it was a false alarm.
The prank, which is known as “swatting,” involves deceiving police by making up events such as murders, bomb threats or other crises to draw a serious police response.
Commentators from left and right decried the dangerous prank on Twitter:
People have literally died on swatting calls. Do not do this, ever.
— Alex Griswold (@HashtagGriswold) June 5, 2018
I don't see why swatting shouldn't be charged as attempted murder.
— Alex Griswold (@HashtagGriswold) June 5, 2018
In fact, I think all 50 states and the federal government should pass laws defining SWATting as attempted murder, with penalties to match.
— Jeff B. (@EsotericCD) June 5, 2018
SWATting kids to own the libs. This is demented. Lock whoever did this up. https://t.co/9RW7n0kabv
— Seth Mandel (@SethAMandel) June 5, 2018
David Hogg's family was "swatted" today. Sickening. https://t.co/fMfEtPJpDm pic.twitter.com/ggFVeZ147h
— andrew kaczynski? (@KFILE) June 5, 2018
Absolutely deranged. Hope whoever did it gets caught and does serious prison time. Waste of valuable resources, not to mention terrorizing a fellow citizen. https://t.co/TBpDmsbIZ8
— David Rutz (@DavidRutz) June 5, 2018
Hogg has received both praise and backlash for his activism in the wake of the February massacre at his high school where 17 people were shot dead by a fellow student.
Now that he’s received his diploma, Hogg is launching a campaign to register young voters and get them to the polls, hoping to replace anti-gun control officials with new faces who will affect change.
[Image via screengrab]
