Child becomes victim of SWATing in Brownsville

BROWNSVILLE, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The Brownsville Police department received a serious threat to the public over the weekend.

At 1 a.m. Sunday, police learned that an video gamer was making threats online. Police say a child was the whistleblower in the case and told authorities they shared their personal information with the gamer who used this information to SWAT the child.

Swating is a form of harassment that involves making a false report of a serious crime to get a SWAT team or other armed police sent to a victim’s location, the Brownsville Police Department explained.

"This incident is a reminder of the potential dangers online and how important it is for parents to watch their children’s online activities," the department stated in a release. "The Brownsville Police Department urges all parents to take steps to protect their children by teaching them internet safety. It is important that children know the dangers of sharing personal information like names, addresses, and phone numbers online."