Executive Summary
- A swatting incident at the University of Utah’s Kahlert Village dormitory prompted a large police response and a shelter-in-place order.
- An anonymous caller claimed to have an assault rifle and threatened violence, triggering the emergency protocols, according to authorities.
- A thorough, multi-pass search of the building by law enforcement found no evidence of a threat, and the all-clear was given to students.
- Officials confirmed the event was a hoax and stated a multi-agency investigation is underway to find and prosecute the individual responsible.
SALT LAKE CITY — A large-scale police response was initiated at the University of Utah on Wednesday evening after a hoax call, known as a “swatting” incident, prompted a shelter-in-place order for students at the Kahlert Village dormitory.
The incident began when University of Utah Police were alerted by the Salt Lake City Police Department about a call received on a non-emergency line. According to officials, a caller identifying himself as Jonathan Smith claimed to have stabbed his girlfriend and possessed an assault rifle, threatening to “shoot up the school” if police did not arrive within 20 minutes.
In response, officers from both departments converged on the campus. Some students were moved to nearby buildings, while others in Kahlert Village were instructed to shelter in place. Scott Carver, Deputy Chief Safety Officer for Police Services with the university, stated that a “large search team” was deployed to conduct a systematic search of the dormitory.
After conducting multiple sweeps of the building on a “floor by floor and room by room” basis, law enforcement found nothing suspicious and determined there was no credible threat. The shelter-in-place order was subsequently lifted, and students were allowed to return to their rooms.
At a press conference, Carver confirmed the event was a swatting hoax. He noted that the caller used a computer-based system to make the call difficult to trace but affirmed that an investigation is underway, with potential assistance from federal agencies like the FBI, to identify the suspect. Carver emphasized that such hoaxes divert critical resources from actual emergencies and that the department prosecutes these cases. It is important to note that any individual charged is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.