Massachusetts Wegmans evacuated after ‘swatting’ call warned of active shooter
NATICK, Mass. Sept 16 2021
The Wegmans grocery store at the Natick Mall was evacuated Monday evening and the mall placed on lockdown after a caller claimed he was an active shooter at the mall, the MetroWest Daily News reported.
The report said the incident turned out to be a case of swatting, making false calls to police and fire to get a large public safety response.
The Daily News said the person originally called the Boston Police Department, claiming to be an active shooter at the mall. The 911 call was reportedly transferred to Natick police at 6:29 p.m. when again the caller claimed to be at the mall shooting people, Lt. Cara Rossi told the newspaper.
Rossi said the call was immediately recognized as a potential swatting case, since it was made over the internet, and the lack of additional 911 calls reporting the incident.
Nevertheless, police told the Daily News the call still had to be taken seriously.
The mall was placed on lockdown and Wegmans was evacuated, while Natick and Massachusetts State Police, along with mall security, searched the parking lots as well as inside the building.
Security cameras were examined and the mall and store quickly reopened after nothing was discovered.
Rossi told the Daily News that the case remained under investigation.
