Colonie (WSYR-TV) – A 12-year-old in the Albany suburb of Colonie may have been the target of a “swatting prank” launched by a fellow Xbox player.
“Swatting” has made headlines recently as a prank typically played on celebrities.
In February, Clint Eastwood was the target of swatting,
according to KTLA 5 in Los Angeles. Justin Bieber and Chris Brown have also been subjected to the prank.
The goal of the prank is create alarm among local authorities in an effort to have a SWAT team respond to the victim’s house.
ABC affiliate News 10 in Albany reported on Monday that the caller claimed his mother had shot his father and was holding the family hostage.
In this case, police detectives arrived at the boy’s home in Colonie.
Police told News 10 that the perpetrator may have known the victim through playing online games together on Xbox.
They say the victim told them he thought the prankster is someone named “Mio.” A perpetrator with the same moniker played a similar prank on a boy in Florida, police told News 10.
To read the complete report and to see video,
visit News 10’s website.
