On Tuesday, October 24, employees of the Wal-Mart store on State Highway 18 in Apple Valley, California, received a threatening call from an unidentified individual, promising to open fire on the store. The store was promptly evacuated and local law enforcement was alerted. Quickly, it was confirmed that the threat was a "swatting" call, a malicious prank targeted at wasting emergency services' resources.
The phenomenon of "swatting" largely started in the online gaming communities but has since invaded the real world. These calls create fictitious emergencies causing fear and uncertainty, while also diverting critical resources from law enforcement. The Apple Valley Wal-Mart became the latest victim of this antic, according to SBSD - Apple Valley Police Department news release.
The Apple Valley Police Department assessed and secured the store, confirming that there was no genuine threat present. A trace of the call linked the phone number to another state, further bolstering the premise that this was a swatting incident, as per the same news release.
The investigation to track down the suspect(s) is ongoing. The Apple Valley Police Department and the anonymous We-Tip Hotline are urging anyone with relevant information to come forward.
