Kick streamer N3on and his friend Benjy Chavez were briefly detained while livestreaming on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles on Sunday after someone called in a report of an active shooter. Video from the stream shows deputies ordering the two to stop moving and lie face down on the sidewalk while officers swept the area. The pair was held only briefly and was not arrested.
Video Shows Deputies Detain Streamers on Melrose
As reported by TMZ, deputies told the pair to stop moving and get down on the cement after a 911 caller claimed people were trying to "shoot up" the area. Footage circulating online captures the tense moments as deputies detained them and checked the scene. According to TMZ, deputies later determined the call was a swatting hoax and ultimately made no arrests.
N3on Has Been Targeted Before
N3on is no stranger to on-stream chaos. Past IRL broadcasts have been hit with false reports that triggered heavy police responses. Dexerto and other outlets have documented earlier incidents, including a January 2024 zoo evacuation that disrupted one of his streams.
Swatting Carries Real Consequences
Federal authorities treat swatting as a serious criminal threat. The Department of Justice has pursued multi-jurisdictional swatting conspiracies and warned that hoax calls put both targets and responding officers at risk. DOJ press materials describe swatting schemes that have led to indictments and guilty pleas in recent years.
For now, investigators have not announced any arrests tied to Sunday’s false report. TMZ reports that N3on went back to streaming soon after deputies let them go, and it is still unclear whether authorities will track down the caller. The episode underlines the growing risks streamers face from coordinated harassment and the very real public safety costs that come with swatting.
