Police: Reported armed home invasion in Stoughton was ‘swatting’ incident

STOUGHTON, Mass. (WHDH) — Law enforcement officials confirm that a reported armed home invasion in Stoughton that drew a massive police response was a “swatting” incident.

After receiving a report of five men with machine guns in a home on Pearl Street at around 10 a.m. Friday, local and regional police shut down a section of road, evacuated surrounding residents and ordered the lockdown of a nearby school while the investigation unfolded, a police official said.

“In light of officer Gannon’s death, we thought this was an appropriate reaction to such a dangerous call,” said Stoughton Police Chief Donna McNamara, referring to the Yarmouth K-9 officer shot and killed in the line of duty last week.

After a heavily armed SWAT team taking cover behind a tactical vehicle approached and cleared the multi-unit home, police officials determined the call was a “swatting” incident — where someone places a fake report in the hopes of prompting a largescale law enforcement response.

Kim Keller was among those who were ordered to evacuate.

“The Stoughton police came knocking on the door to tell us that we had to get out of the house,” said Keller. “They had guns and they wanted us out.”

Almost three hours later, residents said they learned the incident was prompted by an identity theft hoax. Police said a resident of the home recently had her identity stolen and her phone number was used to make the fake emergency call. The investigation into the incident is ongoing.

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