A disturbing incident near the home of Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett is drawing renewed attention to the growing problem of swatting, a tactic that critics say places innocent lives at risk by prompting heavily armed police responses to fabricated emergencies.
According to police dispatch audio shared by freelance journalist Andrew Leyden, officers responded Wednesday night to a report of possible gunshots at Barrett’s residence. The call triggered a law enforcement response to what dispatchers described as the home of a “high-priority resident” protected by around-the-clock security.
From the outset, dispatchers appeared cautious.
“Be advised we have not been able to get an answer on callback to the complainant’s phone number,” the dispatcher said in the audio. “Unknown if it’s going to be a swatting situation.”
That concern proved well-founded.
As officers arrived, they first made contact with security personnel assigned to the residence. According to the dispatch audio, the security officer reported hearing nothing unusual. Officers continued coordinating with security before determining that the report was false.
Swatting is an attempt to get an innocent person killed—in this case, a sitting Supreme Court Justice.
The proper response will be putting the offender in prison for many, many years. https://t.co/CTbvUHbcsY
— Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) May 28, 2026
A spokesperson for the Fairfax County Police Department later confirmed the incident.
“Yesterday evening at approximately 9:02 p.m., officers responded to a swatting call at the residence of a U.S. Supreme Court Justice in Fairfax County,” the department said in a statement.
Police noted that the call came through a non-emergency line and that officers quickly worked with Supreme Court Police personnel assigned to the residence. Authorities determined the report was fictitious, and no additional resources were deployed.
The incident immediately sparked strong reactions from conservative commentators and lawmakers.
Heritage Foundation fellow Robby Starbuck described swatting as far more serious than a prank, arguing that the tactic intentionally creates situations that could lead to deadly encounters.
“Someone tried to get Amy Coney Barrett, her kids and husband killed last night,” Starbuck wrote on X. “That’s what swatting really is: Attempted murder.”
Sen. Mike Lee of Utah echoed that sentiment, calling for severe penalties against those responsible.
“Swatting is an attempt to get an innocent person killed—in this case, a sitting Supreme Court Justice,” Lee wrote. “The proper response will be putting the offender in prison for many, many years.”
The alleged swatting attempt is not the first time Barrett’s home has become a focus of controversy. Following the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision overturning Roe v. Wade, pro-abortion activists organized demonstrations outside the homes of several conservative justices. During that period, the activist group Ruth Sent Us reportedly circulated a map identifying the approximate locations of justices’ residences, including Barrett’s. The map was later removed by Google for violating company policies.
The latest incident highlights ongoing concerns about the safety of public officials and their families. Swatting calls have increasingly targeted politicians, judges, media personalities, and other high-profile figures across the political spectrum. Because responding officers often arrive expecting an active emergency, critics argue that false reports create an inherently dangerous situation for everyone involved.
Fortunately, in this case, coordination between local police and Supreme Court security personnel appears to have prevented the situation from escalating.
