What started as a possible homicide in Oshkosh was instead determined to have been a hoax.
The Oshkosh Police Department warned the public just before 5:00 yesterday evening that they were investigating a “possible incident” in the 2000 block of Menominee Drive, which they later confirmed was a reported homicide.
An anonymous caller claimed that he had shot his girlfriend and had another person at gunpoint in the home, resulting in a large police presence.
Law enforcement made contact with the actual homeowner, who said there shouldn’t be anyone in the home, which allowed officers to clear the residence after finding no signs of a homicide or any weapons incident.
This type of incident is referred to as “swatting”, a trend that started in the online streaming world, where viewers of a live stream would call in a phony crime just to watch police break down the streamer’s door.
Oshkosh Police Sergeant Cody Rukamp noted, “Swatting incidents are dangerous to Law Enforcement and the general public, as Law Enforcement arrive treating the fake event as real until proven otherwise, putting innocent people in extreme danger. The hoax pulls Law Enforcement and Fire/EMS resources away and reduces our ability to respond to calls for service in our community.”
There is currently no danger to the public, and the Oshkosh Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division is still investigating.
