Juvenile arrested for carrying out swatting calls, including UTC 2025 active shooter hoax

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — A juvenile has been arrested following an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) after carrying out a series of swatting calls targeting universities across the United States—including the August 21, 2025, active shooter hoax at UTC. 

According to the Department of Justice, the charges stem from a nationwide pattern of hoax emergency calls made in August 2025, in which institutions were falsely reported as experiencing active shooter incidents.

The defendant is alleged to be affiliated with a cybercriminal group and to have selected institutions at random, with no connection to the campuses targeted.

Known as “swatting,” or false reports designed to trigger emergency response, the August 21st incident at UTC began with a false report of an active shooter inside the campus library, prompting an immediate and large-scale law enforcement response.

“We are grateful to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for their leadership and persistence in identifying those responsible for this dangerous and disruptive act. The FBI’s work sends a clear message that individuals who seek to terrorize communities through hoaxes will be held accountable.”

– UTC Chancellor Lori Mann Bruce said.