Authorities at the University of Utah are searching for the individual responsible for a dangerous swatting incident that triggered a shelter-in-place order at Kahlert Village on Wednesday night. The hoax threat, delivered through a phone call, drew a massive police response and caused widespread panic across campus.
Hoax Call Claimed Stabbing and Threatened Gunfire
According to Administrative Captain Jason Hinojosa of the University of Utah Police Department, the 911 call came through the city’s administrative line from someone claiming to have stabbed their girlfriend. The caller also alleged they were armed with an AR-15 and threatened to begin shooting if officers didn’t arrive within 20 minutes.
Police immediately swept the building but found no weapon, no victim, and no evidence to validate the claim.
“Swatting is a very serious crime,” Hinojosa said. “There was a huge police presence on campus, and that causes panic, it causes fear.”
He emphasized that false emergency calls not only create chaos, but also divert officers from responding to real emergencies elsewhere.
Swatting Cases on the Rise
The incident is part of a wider pattern. The University of Utah reports that two other college campuses experienced swatting attempts just this week. Hinojosa noted that trends like this often come in waves and can affect schools nationwide. In one past year, the university dealt with five separate bomb threats.
“I don’t understand the motivation,” Hinojosa said. “I don’t understand how somebody gains any satisfaction from creating circumstances like this — they are hugely impactful.”
Tracking Down the Suspect
The call reportedly came through a voice-over-internet-provider (VoIP), which may complicate the investigation. Still, Hinojosa said locating the caller is difficult but not impossible.
The campus police department plans to request assistance from federal law enforcement agencies, including those connected with the U.S. Department of Justice, as they work to trace the source of the call.
“Our investigative division will be working full steam,” Hinojosa said. “We will investigate this to the fullest, and hopefully get a prosecution out of it.”
Officials urge anyone with information to contact campus police immediately as the investigation continues.
