Multiple law enforcement agencies are investigating separate hoax 911 calls that led to police officers responding to the homes of four Georgia state senators.
The anonymous calls claimed there were hostage situations, stabbings or shootings at the homes.
The targeted lawmakers were Republican state Senators John Albers of Roswell, Clint Dixon of Buford, Kay Kirkpatrick of Marietta and Democratic state Sen. Kim Jackson of Stone Mountain.
Gwinnett County Police are investigating two swatting calls involving the Buford home of state Sen. Clint Dixon.
The first was Christmas evening when Gwinnett County Police say they received an anonymous 911 call about a shooting and hostage situation involving an armed suspect.
According to an initial police report, there is no information on the caller, and that phone number has not been traced.
This type of ruse is known as “swatting.”
Dixon said the whole ordeal was “quite startling” for his family, including his wife and three kids.
“I was watching a little football and my wife was upstairs packing for a trip, and all of a sudden, I heard her, you know, start yelling, there’s police running at the door. She saw on our Ring doorbell.”
Dixon continued, “So I approached the door and had, I believe it was six officers with guns drawn coming up the steps, and responding to a, a fake call or a false call.”
Gwinnett County Police and Dixon confirmed there was a second swatting call on Tuesday. Dixon said he and his family were not home, but his Mom was when officers responded.
Sen. Kirkpatrick was home with her husband when their Christmas Day incident happened.
In a statement, Kirkpatrick says officers were responding to a false report of a hostage situation.
“This incident has been the first of its kind for me, and I am relieved that it was indeed a hoax. It serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by our law enforcement agencies in distinguishing between genuine threats and false alarms.”
Sen. Jackson says she was at home with her wife and son when their swatting incident happened Tuesday, just after 5 p.m.
“This was our first Christmas with our little boy. He’s two years old and Christmas is still such a miraculous time in his little life. I hate that this happened just one day after Christmas… having the police come into our home, with his toys still strewn out on the living room floor- it just really soured what had been a glorious holiday.
According to DeKalb County Police, the caller claimed there was a stabbing victim inside Jackson’s home.
Sen. Albers was not at home when Roswell police officers responded Tuesday afternoon to a false report of a shooting and some armed inside. His 28-year-old son was at home.
Albers and Dixon have been the targets of swatting calls in the past.
Lt. Governor Burt Jones, who is the President of the state senate, tweeted “I look forward to working with the Senate to strengthen Georgia’s laws so that those who commit these crimes can be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
It is notable that Albers chairs the state Senate Public Safety Committee, which would likely take up any legislation dealing with swatting.
Georgia House Speaker Jon Burns released a statement which included “First, let me be very clear—this is absolutely shameful, dangerous, and reprehensible. Those responsible should be prosecuted to the fullest extent. Not only does it put those targeted in extreme danger, but it also subjects our heroes in law enforcement to unnecessary potential injury.”
A spokesperson for the GBI confirms they are investigating along with local law enforcement.
Republican U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene was also the target of a swatting attempt at her Georgia residence on Christmas morning.
