Police investigated a reported shooting at Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach after receiving a 911 call. However, when officers arrived, they found no signs of a crime. The hospital staff confirmed there was no emergency. Authorities are reviewing the incident as possible “swatting,” a false 911 report that can lead to fear, panic, and a large police response.
This type of hoax call has serious consequences, including lockdowns at hospitals like Loma Linda University’s Children’s Hospital in March. Recently, similar calls were made to Claremont McKenna College, which was also determined to be a hoax. A swatting incident in 2018 led to a man being sentenced to over 20 years in prison for making numerous false 911 reports that resulted in an unarmed person’s death.
Source: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-10-07/hoat-shooting-report-possible-swatting