Riverton got an unwelcome adrenaline rush on Wednesday when a series of 911 calls reported a shooting near 1840 West and 12015 South and a bomb threat at the city’s Costco. Police rushed in, briefly evacuated the warehouse store, and sent a reverse-911 alert to nearby residents while they tried to sort out whether the nightmare scenario was real.
After clearing the store and combing the area, officers did not find any injured victims and said there was no ongoing danger to the public.
According to ABC4, the initial caller told dispatchers he had shot a family member and that the person “was no longer breathing.” Riverton police detained several people for questioning while investigators worked to verify the claims, and the department later thanked the “many agencies that helped” with the multi-location response, the outlet reported.
Police Say Costco Threat Was A Hoax, No Signs Of Shooting
Once the scene at Costco was secured and the surrounding area checked, Riverton police determined the bomb threat was unfounded and that there was no evidence a shooting had taken place.
“It’s kind of a trend right now that there have been lots of bomb threats locally,” Public Information Officer Nate Slack told ABC4, noting that officers ultimately confirmed there was no threat to public safety and lifted the reverse-911 alert.
What The Law Lets Prosecutors Do About Hoax Calls
Utah moved this year to raise the stakes for anyone who abuses 911. Under H.B. 113, lawmakers updated the state’s emergency-reporting abuse statute and increased potential punishments, including felony exposure when a hoax leads to serious injury or death, according to the official bill text from the Utah Legislature. The law also allows prosecutors to seek restitution for expensive emergency responses and gives law enforcement clearer tools when repeat callers tie up 911 lines or trigger large deployments.
False Threats Keep Hitting Big-Box Retailers
The Riverton scare is the latest in a string of threats aimed at Costco stores and other retailers in Utah. In mid-May, KSL reported that a Nevada man was charged after allegedly threatening to blow up a St. George Costco. The case highlighted how hoax calls can stretch police resources and still lead to criminal charges for the person on the other end of the line.
Riverton police say their investigation into Wednesday’s false reports is still active and are asking anyone with information to contact the department. For now, officials are stressing that there is no threat to public safety in the area.
