A large police presence swarmed a residence in Burnet County, Texas, after a report of a hostage situation that was later revealed to be a hoax, an incident officially described as swatting. According to CBS Austin, the Burnet County Sheriff's Office received a call at 1:50 p.m. on March 13, which falsely claimed there was a dangerous situation at a home off State Highway 29.

Responding officials included Department of Public Safety personnel, already in the area for training, who determined the call was a false alarm. "Further investigation determined that this false alarm was a deliberate instance of a practice known as 'swatting,'" the sheriff's office said in a statement. No injuries were reported, despite the large police response, triggered by, the report.

Officials describe 'swatting' as a malicious prank where individuals or groups fabricate a serious emergency leading to a heavy law enforcement response. Typically, the perpetrator hides their identity and location through technology. A separate report by Webstat highlighted the harrowing, potentially dangerous implications of such pranks, indicating the intensity and gravity of the situation that law enforcement faced.

The investigation into the incident and the source of the false report is ongoing. Burnet County law enforcement is urging anyone with credible information to come forward, to aid in the investigation. As the community reels from the unnecessary panic and resource expenditure, officials note the importance of accurate reporting and the resolution of the case, to prevent future occurrences of this nature.