El Paso County authorities say reports of a hostage situation Monday morning in Black Forest were unfounded and that they are investigating if the incident was a case of “swatting.”
Jacqueline Kirby, a spokeswoman for the county sheriff’s office, said dispatchers received a call at about 6:30 a.m. reporting that someone in the home had been shot and a family was being held hostage.
The family inside the home where the situation was reported told officials they were unaware of the call.
“Long story short, it was a bogus call,” Kirby said. “It could be ‘swatting.'”
Swatting began as video game players making false reports to elicit a massive police response as jokes on one another and has spread in popularity throughout the country.
Kirby said the caller had some “very specific information on the individuals that we don’t usually see,” which has prompted a closer look by investigators. The reports of the shooting and hostage situation came in from a blocked number, she said.
“We’re investigating it a little further,” Kirby said.
The sheriff’s office said the situation was reported in the area of Black Forest and Shoup roads.
a one-mile stretch of Shoup was closed in the area. Photos from the scene showed emergency vehicles and road closure signs near where the situation is unfolding.
The sheriff’s office says their investigation remains active and ongoing.
Jesse Paul: 303-954-1733, jpaul@denverpost.com or twitter.com/JesseAPaul
The Gazette contributed to this story.
