A convoy of police cruisers descended on Disneyland on Wednesday, March 11, after 911 callers reported a mass shooting at the Anaheim theme park—investigators later determined the emergency call was an elaborate swatting hoax aimed at livestreamers broadcasting to thousands of viewers.
About a dozen patrol vehicles sped to the park around 9:45 p.m. Wednesday after reports of a possible mass shooting and bomb threats. Anaheim police Sgt. Matt Sutter told KTLA that investigators believed the incident was a swatting call, a dangerous criminal prank that uses false emergency reports to provoke large law enforcement responses.
Officers secured the area but did not evacuate the park, which stayed open while they investigated. Police quickly concluded the threats were fabricated, with Sutter telling City News Service the report was found not credible within 45 minutes. No injuries were reported.
A well-known livestreamer who goes by Oblivion was streaming from the park when security and police approached him. Video shows Disney staff and law enforcement questioning the streamer as he explained the situation to his online viewers.
“It’s just a random internet guy that just swatted us,” the livestreamer told officers.
Disney security eventually removed Oblivion from the park, saying he was “disrupting” business. Fans met him and posed for photos as security escorted him to his vehicle.
The Disneyland episode was one of three separate swatting calls that struck Los Angeles and Orange counties that night, all seemingly aimed at social media influencers who were live streaming.
Earlier that evening, around 5 p.m., police swarmed The Shops at Santa Anita in Arcadia after a caller claimed people inside a Journeys shoe store had rifles and bombs. Tactical officers arrived with weapons drawn, ordering shoppers to the ground while a SWAT vehicle waited at the mall entrance.
The targets were livestreamers Zavalahimself and Amanda Solis, who were broadcasting a day out with a young fan when tactical officers rushed into the store. Arcadia police imposed a temporary lockdown and conducted a methodical search before concluding the report was a hoax.
Just before midnight, officers swarmed a home in Fullerton after reports of a man with a gun. Nothing was found and the scene was cleared, marking the third swatting incident that night. All three calls appeared linked to social media influencers, some of whom were live at the time.
Authorities have not made any arrests, and the identity and whereabouts of the caller or callers remain unknown. Investigators are still working to trace the hoax calls. Swatting is a serious state and federal crime, and perpetrators can face charges such as false reporting of an emergency.
The incidents unfolded amid broader security concerns across California. An FBI memo circulated to state law enforcement in late February warned that Iran “allegedly aspired to conduct a surprise attack” using drones from unidentified vessels off the California coast, prompting increased vigilance at public venues.
However, the FBI alert was based on unverified intelligence, and officials stressed there is no confirmed imminent threat. Governor Gavin Newsom posted on social media: “While we are not aware of any imminent threats at this time, we remain prepared for any emergency in our state.” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt pushed back on initial reporting, stating that no such threat “exists, and it never did.”
Swatting has shifted from targeting individual gamers at home to striking public venues and businesses. The tactic began in online gaming communities, where hostile players would obtain opponents’ addresses and call in false emergencies to provoke dramatic law enforcement responses captured on livestreams. The practice has intensified in recent years, with perpetrators now targeting high-profile locations like theme parks and malls to maximize attention and disruption.
The anonymous nature of online platforms and easy access to information have emboldened perpetrators despite severe legal consequences. Swatting endangers lives by diverting emergency resources and risking violent confrontations between heavily armed officers and unsuspecting victims.
The Anaheim Police Department asks anyone with information about the hoax calls to contact them at (714) 765-1900. Those with details about the Santa Anita incident can reach Arcadia Police at 626-574-5151.
Disneyland returned to normal operations after the event. Park officials have not disclosed whether specific guests or areas were named in the false reports. Police have not confirmed whether the swatting incidents were coordinated or the result of multiple perpetrators.
