PUBLIC RELATIONS UNIT

April 6, 2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact Information: PolicePRUnit@slcgov.com

SLCPD Investigates Swatting Incident in Poplar Grove Neighborhood

SALT LAKE CITY — This morning, the Salt Lake City Police Department quickly and safely determined a reported shooting in the Poplar Grove neighborhood to be unfounded.

This investigation started at 5:10 a.m. on Thursday, April 6, 2023, when SLC911 received a call about a shooting and a possible hostage situation at a home near 1400 West Gillespie Avenue.

Officers throughout the city immediately responded, established incident command, and developed a plan and contacted the property owner.

The property owner confirmed no one in the home was hurt or being held against their will.

“Our police officers performed as we expected to keep everyone safe”, said Salt Lake City Police Chief Mike Brown. “These unfounded calls pose significant dangers to our officers and the community. I would like to thank the women and men of the Salt Lake City Police Department. Our graveyard patrol officers from across the city handled this incident with professionalism and great care to ensure their safety and the safety of those in this neighborhood. These are dynamic situations that can result in significant consequences if the caller is identified.”

Swatting occurs when someone places either a 9-1-1 call or non-emergency call into a law enforcement dispatch center and makes a false report about a critical incident. These reports, until determined to be unfounded, are treated as real and draw a large response from a community’s public safety network. People behind swatting calls are known to use caller ID spoofing, social engineering, text-to-911, and other means to hide or clone someone else’s identity.

Photos taken on scene are being released. Media may use these photos with proper credit to the Salt Lake City Police Department.

There is no other information available for release.

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