Tama law enforcement responds to Fortnite swatting call

Law enforcement from multiple Tama County agencies responded to a threatening call Wednesday morning in the city of Tama, which investigators believe was a swatting call related to the video game Fortnite.

According to a press release from the Tama County Sheriff’s Office, a 911 caller at 9:33 a.m. Wednesday told dispatchers that they had shot their sister, tied up their parents, and they intended to harm law enforcement. The caller gave dispatch an address in the city of Tama.

The Tama and Toledo police departments and the Tama County Sheriff’s Office responded to the call. After checking several homes in the area, they determined the call was a swatting call, or a fake call intended to draw a large law enforcement response.

“Our early investigation shows this may be tied to the video game Fortnite. Across the country, there has been a rise in swatting calls connected to online gaming,” Sheriff Casey Schmidt said in the news release. “While most people play these games responsibly, this is a good reminder for parents to keep an eye on what your kids are doing online, especially in games that involve chatting with strangers.”

No charges have been filed in relation to the swatting call, but Schmidt said in the release that if and when investigators discover who made the call, charges will be filed accordingly.

“We do not tolerate this kind of behavior in Tama County,” the release reads.

Comments: (319) 398-8328; emily.andersen@thegazette.com