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Unarmed Kansas Man Killed By SWAT Team After Getting 'Swatted' By Call Of Duty Player
“Swatting” is when someone makes up an anonymous, fake emergency call to authorities with the intention of having them dispatch a local SWAT team.
A man from Wichita, Kansas died after at least one online gamer allegedly "swatted” him, and prompted a SWAT team to be sent to his home. “Swatting” is when someone makes up an anonymous, fake emergency call to authorities with the intention of having them dispatch a local SWAT team. It’s usually an act of revenge. This case appears to be no exception.
Andrew Finch, 28, was shot dead by a SWAT team officer, who was led to believe he was entering a dangerous hostage situation, last week.
“A male [Finch] came to the front door,” Deputy Police Chief Troy Livingston said during a press briefing on Friday. “As he came to the front door, one of our officers discharged his weapon.”
Finch was reportedly unarmed.
The incident is still under investigation, according to Kansas.com.
On Friday, an arrest was made in connection with the deadly shooting. According to NBC News, 25-year-old Tyler Barriss was arrested by the Los Angeles Police Department for allegedly giving Finch’s address to police in Kansas.
Barriss allegedly told police that Finch shot his father in the head and was currently holding his mother and siblings hostage. That phone call between Barriss and police was posted online by the Wichita Police Department.
It all started with a heated argument during a Call of Duty game which was being played with a $1.50 wager, the Verge reports. One gamer allegedly gave Finch’s address to Barriss. In an interview with YouTube channel DramaAlert, Barriss allegedly declared that “he loves swatting kids who think nothing is going to happen.”
A gamer who claimed to have made the call to police tweeted, “I DIDNT GET ANYONE KILLED BECAUSE I DIDNT DISCHARGE A WEAPON AND BEING A SWAT MEMBER ISNT MY PROFESSION.”
His account was later suspended.
Barriss was arrested and later convicted for making bomb threats to a California television station in 2015. It is unclear if he has a lawyer. A GoFundMe campaign has been set up for Finch’s funeral.
[Photos: GoFundMe, Glendale Police Department]
