“Swatting” Call at Residence in Wilshire Division NR21258ll

November 12, 2021

***UPDATE***

In October 2021, LAPD Major Crimes Division received information that a group of online persons operating on the Discord chat platform were responsible for the September 2021 swatting at a residence in the 2100 block of Wellington Road.

The ensuing investigation revealed that the same group were responsible for the swatting incidents that targeted the same residence on August 12, 2020 and on September 29, 2021. Additionally, 30 other bomb threats and swatting incidents across the United States have been linked to this group. Additional cases and digital evidence are still being collected as the investigation continues. Targets from these incidents involve other online persons, video gamers, activists, schools, airports, houses of worship, entertainment venues and memorial parks dating back to July 2020.

The main suspects in this series are three juveniles between the ages of 13 and 16. Two of our suspects reside in Medina, Ohio and Yonkers, New York while our main subject has been identified as a US citizen currently living overseas in the country of Cyprus.

Subjects were using advanced software, overseas servers, and privacy tools to hide their electronic trail. Major Crimes Division Detectives coordinated with the FBI and local law enforcement agencies in Yonkers, New York, Harford County, Maryland, and Medina, Ohio to identify the individuals responsible and immediately disrupted their illegal activities.

On November 9, 2021, simultaneous search and arrest warrants were served in Yonkers, New York and Medina, Ohio. Additional witnesses were interviewed in Maryland. Numerous electronic devices were also seized and are pending forensic analysis by the FBI and the US Secret Service.

Some of the language used in the swatting incidents and a review of the subjects’ online activities reflect a racial motivation theme to a number of these swatting attacks. Major Crimes Division will be presenting the case against all three suspects to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office for filing consideration for criminal conspiracy and for creating a false emergency. We will be requesting consideration for a hate crime enhancement.

Los Angeles: The Los Angeles Police Department responded to a call for service at a residence in the 2100 block of Wellington Road.

Earlier today, around 9:30 a.m. Los Angeles Police Department Wilshire Division police officers responded to a radio call of a possible attempt suicide. The responding officers attempted to contact the occupants of the residence by knocking on the front door. It was determined there was no trouble at the residence, and the call was likely a “swatting” incident. The term “swatting” refers to someone who places a false emergency call for service, generally of a nature which causes a large police response. The “swatting” practice is dangerous and places the community and first responders in harm’s way.

A report for Electronic 9-1-1 abuse was completed. The investigation is ongoing and Major Crimes Division is writing a search warrant to aid in attempts to identify the individual(s) responsible for this crime. The investigation is preliminary, and it is unknown if there is any connection to a prior incident at the same location. “

Anyone with information is urged to call Major Crimes Division at (213) 486-7280. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (877-527-3247). Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call the LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477) or go directly to www.lacrimestoppers.org. Tipsters may also visit ww.lapdonline.org and click on “Anonymous Web Tips” under the “Get Involved-Crime Stoppers” menu to submit an online tip. Lastly, tipsters may also download the “P3 Tips” mobile application and select the LA Regional Crime Stoppers as their local program.