911 Call of Shootings in Country Club of South a Hoax

The news Thursday evening of a triple shooting in a tony Johns Creek subdivision had police and SWAT teams scrambling and news helicopters and crews racing to the scene.

Turns out the call that came in through 911 was a hoax.

Around 4:30 p.m. (Jan. 16) a call came through to the Alpharetta Police 911 operator of a triple shooting in the Country Club of the South - the call was re-routed to Johns Creek police.

The caller told the 911 operator "that a man, woman and child had been shot at the residence of a home located (on the 7000 block of) Carlisle Lane," according to the Johns Creek Police report. "The caller also said he was holding a female hostage and was demanding a $30,000 ransom."

When Johns Creek police arrived they quickly cordoned off the area, posting officers at strategic vantage points and creating a staging area for the fire and EMS vehicles to operate.

Police were able to make contact with the residents, three adults and two children, who safely left the house. JCPD officers then checked the home and confirmed there was no one else inside. 

One of the residents, who was obviously shocked and confused about the heavy police presence and being ordered to leave her home, told police she had no idea why her home was the target of the hoax.

"It appears at this time that the initial call is part of a growing trend referred to as "swatting. This is a call designed to mobilize numerous law enforcement and emergency resources and personnel to an unwitting residence or business," wrote JCPD Officer D.L. Smith in his report.

Police are now trying to track down the caller.

Editor's note: Poncho Wilson, a Johns Creek resident, sent in the news tip to Johns Creek Patch. The photo was posted on his Facebook page. Also, thanks to Maggie Sloe and Christ Ausburn for sending Patch photos from the scene Thursday night.

Keep up with what's going on around town - sign up here for the Johns Creek Patch daily newsletter - and breaking news alerts.