12-Year-Old ID’ed As Swatting Caller Who Prompted Mass MoCo Police Response

ROCKVILLE, MD — A 12-year-old girl was identified as the caller at the center of a September 2025 swatting incident that triggered a massive police response in Montgomery County.

In a Friday news release, Montgomery County police said detectives with the department’s Threat Assessment & Behavioral Solutions Unit tracked down the girl as the source of the call.

The determination was officially made Jan. 27.

The case traces back to Sept. 9, 2025, when Montgomery County police officers received a call about an active shooting in the 19100 block of Montgomery Village Avenue.

While no shooting was confirmed by officers in the area, investigators traced the original call to a moving school bus. A mass police response was then mobilized to stop and check multiple school buses, Montgomery County police said.

“The incident resulted in a significant police response and caused traffic disruptions while officers worked to ensure public safety,” the department said. “The incident diverted officers from other calls for service and disrupted traffic in the area.”

Since Maryland law prohibits criminal charges being filed against the girl due to her age, police alerted school administrators, prompting disciplinary action to be taken against the student.

Police did not specify how investigators were able to track down the source of the call, but reiterated that false police reports can strain emergency resources and cause significant impacts to the community.