A 17-year-old from California was arrested this week for allegedly causing hundreds of swatting incidents throughout the country, including making several bomb threats.
The teen has been dubbed a “serial swatter” and is now facing charges for a swatting incident at a mosque in Florida, where he was extradited this week, according to the Seminole County State Attorney’s Office.
Swatting is a recent internet trend that sees people make fake threats to the police with the intention of having them respond to unsuspecting locations in force.
While swatting has boomed in popularity with the internet, the FBI says it has been on its radar for almost two decades, as it became widely known as targets of the prank included more famous people.
Along with internet streamers who have some more public swatting jokes in recent months, several lawmakers were targeted in the last two months, as well as several state capitol buildings.
As for the teen, the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office reported that he threatened a mass shooting at the Masjid Al Hayy Mosque in Sanford, Florida, in May 2023.
The teen reportedly called law enforcement in the state, saying he had a handgun and explosive devices, the sheriff’s office shared.
During the 911 call, which was released by the department, he can then be heard saying he is going to “commit a mass shooting in the name of Satan.”
The call got the outcome the teen was looking for, as nearly 30 officers responded to the mosque but found nothing pertaining to the threats.
“Swatting is a perilous and senseless crime, which puts innocent lives in dangerous situations and drains valuable resources. The substantial law enforcement response in this swatting case underscores our unwavering dedication to community safety and holding offenders accountable, regardless of where they are located,” Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma said.
According to a court filing, the teen also targeted historically Black colleges, FBI offices, and FBI agents and made bomb threats to military bases, the Pentagon, and more.
Law enforcement was eventually able to trace the call back to the suspect’s home in Lancaster, California. They also discovered that he had created numerous website accounts where he offered swatting services.
The teen was arrested on Jan. 18, and he has been charged as an adult with three felony charges of false reporting and a charge of unlawful use of a two-way communication device.
At this time he remains in custody and has entered a plea of not guilty.