Woodstock, CT — State troopers responded to a reported shooting Friday evening that turned out to be “not as reported.”
At approximately 7:45 PM on Friday, December 12, 2025, the Connecticut State Police responded to a report that an individual had reportedly shot their parent at a Woodstock residence. Numerous troopers began responding to the incident, and EMS personnel were dispatched to stage in a safe location.
While units were responding, it was determined that the call had been placed from a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) online phone number. The narrative of the call and the use of a VOIP number have become typical signs of a “swatting” call.
The Connecticut State Police confirmed troopers were dispatched for a “suspicious incident” and quickly determined it to be “not as reported” once arriving on the scene. The State Police were unable to confirm whether this was an intentional swatting call.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, swatting involves placing false emergency calls reporting severe, ongoing crises to provoke significant law enforcement responses. The malicious act aims to “create chaos and potentially result in violence.”
Swatting has become a tactic used by individuals to target those they have grudges against, celebrities, and internet personalities during live streams, as well as by individuals simply wanting to witness a large police response.
Similar incidents have occurred since 2019 in Sterling, Plainfield, and Brooklyn, CT, as well as Webster, MA, and a number of area schools in Massachusetts.
The incident remains under investigation.