A wave of false active shooter reports at universities across the U.S. has caused widespread panic and law enforcement responses, highlighting the growing problem of swatting and its impact on campus safety and resources.
Several universities across the U.S. experienced hoax reports of active shooters at the start of the fall semester, which were later confirmed to be false or swatting calls, prompting police responses and campus alerts.
The University of South Carolina issued a shelter-in-place alert after an unconfirmed report of an active shooter near a library, but later confirmed there was no evidence of a threat, following recent false alarms at other universities.
Hannah Katzir, a 77-year-old Israeli hostage who was previously reported to have been killed in captivity in Gaza, has been released by Hamas along with 12 other hostages as part of a temporary truce between Israel and Hamas. The Palestinian Islamic Jihad had falsely claimed that Katzir was killed in an Israeli attack. Katzir, who was abducted during a Hamas attack on Kibbutz Nir Oz, was seen in a video released by the terrorist group stating that Hamas had taken care of her and her fellow hostages.
Carlee Russell, the Alabama woman whose disappearance sparked a nationwide search after she falsely reported a toddler being kidnapped, is due in court to face misdemeanor charges of falsely reporting to law enforcement. If convicted, she could face up to a year in jail and a $6,000 fine. The Hoover Police Chief expressed frustration that Russell is only facing misdemeanor charges, but the state's laws do not allow for harsher penalties. Russell initially claimed to have seen a toddler walking along a highway, but later admitted to lying about the missing child report.
Steve Harvey seemingly fired his social media manager after a negative tweet about comedians was posted on his Twitter account. He addressed the incident in a video, expressing his commitment to positivity and distancing himself from such negativity. Additionally, false reports about his wife, Marjorie Bridges, cheating on him with their chef and bodyguard circulated online, but a friend of Harvey's dismissed the rumors as fake news, confirming that the couple is happily together.
Contrary to recent reports claiming that Kylie Jenner and Timothée Chalamet have split, sources close to the couple have confirmed that they are still together. Although they have been keeping their relationship low-key and out of the public eye, insiders assure fans that the rumors are false and urge them not to believe everything they read.
Janie Santana, the mother of Rudy Farias, who was reported missing eight years ago at the age of 17, has been accused of providing false information and using multiple last names. According to the Houston Police Department, Farias was never actually missing, and both Santana and Farias gave fictitious names to patrol officers. Santana has been married multiple times, with at least one marriage being voided due to claims of being married to multiple people simultaneously. While no charges have been filed yet, the case remains active and ongoing.
Houston Police revealed that Rudy Farias, a man who was reported missing for over 8 years, had actually been at home the entire time. Investigators discovered evidence proving that Farias returned home the day after he was reported missing, but both he and his mother provided false information to police. Farias, now 25 years old, was found on July 1, 2023, after authorities received a call about a person lying on the ground. No charges have been filed, and the investigation is ongoing.
Zendaya and her team have denied false claims that she was turned away from a restaurant in Rome due to her clothing not adhering to the dress code. Her friend and assistant, Darnell Appling, clarified that they never got denied entry and instead left to try a new restaurant. Zendaya shared a shady cartoon on her Instagram story in response to the false reports.
Britney Spears and Kevin Federline have spoken out against tabloid reports that they say are untrue. A recent Daily Mail story quoted Federline expressing fear that Spears was “on meth.” A separate article in another British tabloid, The Sun, claimed Federline had staged a “failed intervention” to try and help his ex-wife. Both Spears and Federline took to Instagram to express their disappointment and sadness over the false reports.
The New York Attorney General's Office is investigating a nonprofit organization's false claims that homeless veterans were displaced from a hotel to make way for migrants. The hotel showed proof that it was not housing homeless veterans and that no one was displaced when the migrants arrived. The situation also ensnared a local Assemblymember who railed against the alleged displacement of veterans. The Orange County District Attorney’s Office warned against any rush to judgment on any potential illegalities.
A 16-year-old from Dania Beach, Florida, was arrested on suspicion of making a series of false reports of bomb threats at several schools and the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport on Friday, causing disruptions and evacuations. The teenager now faces charges of written threats to kill, false report of a bomb or firearm, and disruption of a school function. Making reports of a hoax or false active shooter, or “swatting,” is a disturbing trend that continues to cause disruptions of school life across the country.
A 16-year-old from Dania Beach, Florida, was arrested on suspicion of making a series of false reports of bomb threats at several schools and the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport on Friday, causing disruptions and evacuations. The teenager now faces charges of written threats to kill, false report of a bomb or firearm, and disruption of a school function. Making reports of a hoax or false active shooter, or “swatting,” is a disturbing trend that continues to cause disruptions of school life across the country.
Jamie Foxx's daughter, Corinne Foxx, has confirmed that her father is "recuperating" and has been out of the hospital "for weeks" after a recent "medical complication." She also called out false reports about her father's health and thanked everyone for their prayers and support. The father-daughter duo hosts the game show "Beat Shazam," and the show announced that Nick Cannon and Kelly Osbourne would fill in for them as Jamie Foxx recovers. Several gossip sites had suggested that Foxx's family members were "preparing for the worst," but they were later proven to be false.