March 31--A report of shots fired and an armed gunman in a Hermosa Beach neighborhood turned out to be hoax, police said Wednesday.
South Bay police departments including SWAT officers had converged in the neighborhood after receiving a call about a murdered family in the area of 31st Street and Manhattan Avenue shortly before 3 p.m., Hermosa Beach police Sgt. Robert Higgins said.
But the report was a hoax known as swatting.
Officers are now investigating the call, which was initially untraceable, he said.
Swatters often target high-profile celebrities and social media stars. The anonymous prank callers notify police of a phony crime at the victim's home address and phone number.
Such calls trigger tactical responses from police that waste resources and could cause harm.
For SoCal crime investigations follow me on Twitter @lacrimes.
