(KTTS News) — Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft says his home was swatted around 10 p.m. Sunday night.
Ashcroft says he was home with his wife and family when he got a call asking if everything was ok.
Police told him that they’d received a phone call that someone had been shot at his home.
No one was hurt.
Ashcroft says he came out of the home with his hands up and saw several officers from the Jefferson City Police Department outside.
My home was just swatted. My family and I are safe. I am grateful to Jefferson City law enforcement for the professionalism with which they handled the situation.
— Jay Ashcroft (@JayAshcroftMO) January 8, 2024
A swatting call is a prank call where someone calls 911 with a fake emergency, sending a large number of police to an address.
Four Republican lawmakers were swatted over Christmas.
They’re planning to introduce legislation making it easier for police to arrest and prosecute those who make swatting calls.
Press Release
Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft said his house was swatted late Sunday evening.
Ashcroft said he was at home with his wife and children when he received a phone call from law enforcement asking if everything was fine in his house.
“It ended up with me walking out of my front door with my hands up with several armed police officers in front of my house. I’m so thankful the Jefferson City Police Department handled the situation with an extreme amount of professionalism and that no one was hurt. It is unfortunate their resources and manpower had to be used on a prank,” said Ashcroft. “I am hopeful those responsible for such childish, cowardice acts will be brought to justice.”
The police told Ashcroft that they received an emergency call saying that there had been a shooting at the residence.