EDITOR’S NOTE: At the time of this writing, breaking news was being released that yet another Republican lawmaker, this time Georgia Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones, was also the victim of a “swatting,” which makes five big Republican names in four days who have been swatting victims.
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NAPLES, FL – Florida Republican Senator, Rick Scott, was out to dinner with his wife when what turned out to be a prank call, now known as “swatting,” brought police to his home.
Reportedly, Scott and wife, Ann, were eating at a restaurant shortly after 9:00pm on Wednesday when officers from the Naples Police Department (NPD) responded to his home after receiving a call that a male in the residence had shot his sleeping wife three times with an AR-15.
On scene, police met with the International Protective Services who had already made it to the residence. Authorities said there were no signs of forced entry or foul play.
The homeowner, Senator Scott, was contacted and responded to the home, where he told police he had not made such a call and had not even been in the home at the time provided.
He asked officers to conduct a security sweep of his home, which they did. Officers found no shooting victim and nothing else suspicious in the home.
It was later revealed that a man who called himself “Jamal” had called 911 slightly before 9:00pm to say he’d shot his wife for sleeping with another man. Jamal said he was also holding the wife’s boyfriend, Michael, hostage for $10,000. He said if he didn’t receive that money, he would blow up the house with a pipe bomb he had with him.
Police later said that “Jamal” sounded like he was artificial intelligence rather than a real person.
“These criminals wasted the time & resources of our law enforcement in a sick attempt to terrorize my family,” Senator Scott in a social media post regarding the incident.
The Senator thanked responding agencies, NPD and Collier County Sheriff’s Office, in his post.
In addition to Senator Scott, three other Republican lawmakers have been the victim of “swatting” incidents this past week.
Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene was swatted, as well as both of her daughter’s houses. One incident was even on Christmas Day.
New York Representative Brandon Williams’ home was also swatted on Christmas Day.
Several local deputies responded to a false report of a shooting to the home of Ohio State Representative Kevin Miller.
"This ‘swatting incident’ put several lives at risk and was a huge waste of resources," Miller said in a statement following the incident. "Special thanks to Licking County Sheriff Randy Thorp and his team for their expeditious and professional response."
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NAPLES, FL – Florida Republican Senator, Rick Scott, was out to dinner with his wife when what turned out to be a prank call, now known as “swatting,” brought police to his home.
Reportedly, Scott and wife, Ann, were eating at a restaurant shortly after 9:00pm on Wednesday when officers from the Naples Police Department (NPD) responded to his home after receiving a call that a male in the residence had shot his sleeping wife three times with an AR-15.
On scene, police met with the International Protective Services who had already made it to the residence. Authorities said there were no signs of forced entry or foul play.
The homeowner, Senator Scott, was contacted and responded to the home, where he told police he had not made such a call and had not even been in the home at the time provided.
He asked officers to conduct a security sweep of his home, which they did. Officers found no shooting victim and nothing else suspicious in the home.
It was later revealed that a man who called himself “Jamal” had called 911 slightly before 9:00pm to say he’d shot his wife for sleeping with another man. Jamal said he was also holding the wife’s boyfriend, Michael, hostage for $10,000. He said if he didn’t receive that money, he would blow up the house with a pipe bomb he had with him.
Police later said that “Jamal” sounded like he was artificial intelligence rather than a real person.
“These criminals wasted the time & resources of our law enforcement in a sick attempt to terrorize my family,” Senator Scott in a social media post regarding the incident.
The Senator thanked responding agencies, NPD and Collier County Sheriff’s Office, in his post.
In addition to Senator Scott, three other Republican lawmakers have been the victim of “swatting” incidents this past week.
Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene was swatted, as well as both of her daughter’s houses. One incident was even on Christmas Day.
New York Representative Brandon Williams’ home was also swatted on Christmas Day.
Several local deputies responded to a false report of a shooting to the home of Ohio State Representative Kevin Miller.
"This ‘swatting incident’ put several lives at risk and was a huge waste of resources," Miller said in a statement following the incident. "Special thanks to Licking County Sheriff Randy Thorp and his team for their expeditious and professional response."
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