CHICAGO — A massive police presence took over the Walmart parking lot on South Doty Avenue Friday night after a caller claimed to be an armed employee with a bomb.
The crisis began when an individual called a hotline, identifying themselves as a store worker.
The caller claimed to have both guns and an explosive device, threatening to shoot a hostage within 20 minutes.
Chicago Police units rushed to the scene at 10900 South Doty Avenue in the Pullman neighborhood around 7:45 PM.
Officers quickly secured the area and began a high-stakes investigation.
However, the threat was soon determined to be a “swatting” incident, a dangerous hoax.
Current Situation:
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Threat Neutralized: Police have cleared the scene and confirmed the threat was “not bonafide.”
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Identity Fraud: The caller used a fake name and is not an employee of the store.
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No Injuries: No weapons or explosives were found, and no one was harmed during the response.
While the situation ended safely, the heavy police response and sirens caused a wave of panic for Friday night shoppers.
Authorities are now working to track the origin of the call to find the person responsible for the false report.
