POLICE raided the South Carolina home of Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley after a man called saying he had shot a woman at the property.
However, police quickly determined it was a fake call that had led to yet another incident of so-called swatting against a major political figure in a year already marred by several similar incidents.
An unknown person called 911 claiming to have committed a crime at the home of Nikki HaleyGetty
The report at the home has since been ruled a hoaxGetty
An unknown person called 911 and “claimed to have shot his girlfriend and threatened to harm himself while at the residence of Nikki Haley,” Craig Harris, Kiawah Island director of public safety, told town officials on December 30, according to Reuters.
“It was determined to be a hoax … Nikki Haley is not on the island and her son is with her.”
This incident had not been previously reported.
Harris also said that he was in contact with South Carolina’s state police, FBI, and the head of Haley’s security team.
“This incident is being investigated by all involved,” he wrote.
The hoax is called swatting which is when someone calls the police and falsely claims hostages are being held at a specific address.
As the presidential election is underway, swatting cases have grown in numbers, according to Reuters.
They have been targeting both allies and rivals of former president Donald Trump as he campaigns for his return.
MORE SWATTING REPORTS
On January 7, Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, a Trump supporter was the victim of swatting.
Similar to Haley’s incident, the caller told police that he had shot his wife and was going to kill himself then promptly hung up, according to the Jefferson City, Missouri Police Department.
Another case involved the top official in the Georgia secretary of state office, Gabriel Sterling when a call was placed about a shooting at his home.
On January 11, fourteen Atlanta police cars, a fire truck, and an ambulance raided his home.
“Now I bolt my doors every night,” said Sterling in an interview.
“That’s the reality I’m living in now.”
Despite the number of swatting pranks increasing, the run for office is still in progress.
Though Haley lost the Iowa Caucus and the New Hampshire primary, she is determined to stay in the running.
The US Sun has reached out to Haley’s campaign for comment.
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