Police: Swatting call claiming multiple homicides prompted response at Washington Borough apartments

WASHINGTON BOROUGH, N.J. (Warren County) — A hoax phone call claiming multiple homicides led to a heavy police response at the Washington Garden Apartments on Tuesday afternoon, according to the Washington Township Police Department.

Police said the investigation began after a man called police headquarters around 3 p.m., claiming he had just committed multiple homicides. “All investigative means showed that the phone number came in as an anonymous number and wasn’t able to be tracked,” police said. “It was ultimately ruled a swatting incident, and no one was harmed.”

Officers were dispatched to the complex following the call and attempted to make contact with the man using a patrol vehicle’s loudspeaker. The Warren County Tactical Response Team was activated and later entered the apartment, which was found to be unoccupied.

Authorities confirmed the incident was a swatting call, a false report intended to trigger an emergency response.

“This was an isolated incident, and there is no threat to the public,” police said in a statement.