In today's world, it has become common the last three, four years, to hear the term swatting. The term means someone makes a phony call to someone they don't like over a video game. They call the police to report a fake murder or kidnapping, yada yada yada. The swatter gets enjoyment out of a SWAT team or group of cops trying to arrest or possibly kill the swatted. Unfortunately, it has become fatal for a Wichita, Kansas man who had no involvement.
As most sites have made aware by now, two people were playing the newest Call of Duty game online. It was a wagered bet at $1.50. They lost the match and started bickering. What came across was the suggestion of saying they would swat each other. One gave an address. A California man, Tyler Barriss, was given the task supposedly by one of them, and decided to make a phony call about killing his father, tying up his mother and brother, and pouring gasoline all over the house. This tragedy culminated in Andrew Finch being shot and killed. Barriss, as of now, is looking to stand trial and is being extradited to Wichita.
I don't even know where to begin. I first heard of these incidents back in 2014 and it seems like now these days, it's almost like a common occurrence. This Finch guy should not have died, but unfortunately, the cops didn't have much choice on taking caution. They have to treat these things very seriously despite these calls being phony. The downside is the manpower and costs to deploy SWAT teams and even diverting local police to check out the situation while real crimes occur. A sad reality is that Barriss should not have even been making this phone call.
Barriss has been involved in making a few hoaxes that have landed him in jail. As reports have come in to websites, one was at K-ABC 7 in 2015. He was to spend a couple years in prison beginning May 2016, but got out in eight months. He would spend another seven months on another conviction of violating an order that was supposed to last until around this time. Really, they should not have been easy on this guy. He should have still been in a cell until May of this year. Either way, I hope they take into account the stuff he has done, because Barriss should be spending the rest of his life in prison. He is unfit for society. This is also considering that last month, he was looking to hoax a convention center in Dallas, Texas. For a Major League Gaming conference. Not to mention the FCC because of the net neutrality hearings.
I don't blame people for getting pissed about this. Either he gets a life long sentence or he gets the death penalty. Regarding the cop, I don't know. I don't think he'll get fired, but with him being on leave at the moment, a suspension would seem out of the question. Barriss has no remorse or regret of accidentally having Finch killed. He will live with that for the rest of his life, no matter how much he denies the whole thing. Something has to happen to prevent these tragedies. Play safe, and don't forget, it's just a video game when you're playing online.
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