Active Shooter Report In Westminster 'Likely Swatting,' Cops Say

WESTMINSTER, CA —Westminster police took no chances Wednesday after receiving reports of an active shooter in the Golden West Street vicinity, near the 405 and the Westminster Mall.

Golden West Street was shut down near Westminster High School, according to residents, and Westminster police sent a SWAT vehicle to the location, Patch editor Paige Austin reported. A helicopter was also sighted in the area.

Westminster police Watch Cmdr. Ron Weber told Patch that they received an active shooter call and officers went to investigate, though there were no signs of an actual shooter at the location as of 12:30 p.m.

"It is likely swatting," Weber said.

The act of "swatting" involves a call where a significant police presence would arrive at the scene of a faked call. Even when swatting is expected, police do not take chances when a call may involve an active shooting, according to Weber.

Westminster police were leaving the area at 12:45 p.m., according to Austin, though a police presence was expected to remain in the area until at least 1 p.m., according to Weber.

Nearby Wilmore Elementary School school pickup was affected, and the school was briefly placed on lockdown.

This report will be updated as more information is released.