Following the "swatting" incident in Wichita, Kansas where the police mistakenly shot an innocent man due to a fake emergency call, the main suspect has been apprehended last Friday night.
Tyler Barriss, 25, was arrested by the South Los Angeles Friday night when various informants claimed he was the one who orchestrated the deadly prank. Barriss was also convicted for calling in multiple bomb threats to the Glendale offices of KABC-TV Channel 7 two years ago.
According to reports, Barriss allegedly called 911 Thursday with claims that he shot his dad and is holding his mother and sister hostage. He also told 911 that he has already doused their home in gasoline and planned to set their house on fire.
Finch's home address was given by Barriss, prompting police officers to immediately respond to the scene. When the officers asked Finch to put his hands up, Finch apparently made a gesture which made the police think he was unloading a gun from his waist. A police officer then fired at Finch, who was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital.
Because of his actions, the officer who shot Finch is now on a paid administrative leave while authorities investigate the matter.
"We don't see this as a joke," Deputy Wichita Police Chief Troy Livingston said in a press conference Friday night. "It's not a prank. The irresponsible acts of a prankster put people's lives at risk. The incident is a nightmare for everyone involved, including the family and our police department. Due to the action of a prankster, we have an innocent victim. If the false police call had not been made, we would not have been there."
Apparently, the whole incident originated from a wager-based match of Search and Destroy in Call of Duty: WWII. Two teammates, nicknamed "Miruhcle" and "Baperizer," had an apparent argument after losing a game, which led to "Baperizer" enlisting the help of another player nicknamed "Swautistic" to initiate a "swat on "Miruhcle."
"Swatting" is a form of prank where a person makes a fake emergency call usually involving homicide and other similar threats and gives the address of the person they're targeting to the police. Andrew Finch's case is one of the most serious cases of the sort.
According to Andrew's mother, Lisa Finch, Finch is not a gamer and had no connection whatsoever with the COD feud. Finch left behind two children — ages two and seven.
