A report of an active shooter at a Santa Monica hotel prompted a heavy law enforcement response Wednesday, but it turned out to be a hoax, police said.
Officers responded to the Huntley Hotel in the 1100 block of Second Street shortly after 1:30 p.m. after a caller claimed that multiple people were injured in an active shooting.
Santa Monica police said that when officers arrived at the scene, they determined the call was a hoax, also referred to as a “swatting call” meant to elicit a large police response.
“This behavior is akin to making a false police report and is illegal,” the SMPD said in a statement.
There were no injuries reported.