Erin Derham was jolted awake by loud knocking on her door during a fierce storm in North Carolina. The wind howled, and rain poured down as she rushed to see what was happening, thinking a tree might have fallen on her house. In her pajamas, with her three children asleep upstairs, she opened the door to find a police officer with his gun drawn. He asked if someone had been shot inside her home.
In that moment, Erin realized her family was the target of a swatting incident. Swatting involves making a false report to the police about a serious crime at someone’s home, leading to a heavy police response. It’s a dangerous prank that can escalate quickly and waste valuable resources.
When Erin explained the situation to the officer, he initially seemed to think she was admitting to the crime. She clarified that someone had made the call, and the officer radioed to stop other units that were on their way. Meanwhile, a large number of police officers were responding to a call that claimed a man had shot his wife and was hiding from intruders.
The fabricated call, made by someone pretending to be Erin’s husband, Matt Van Swol, described a horrifying scene. The caller claimed that masked intruders had broken in, shot his wife, and that he was injured and hiding in the basement. He begged for help, saying, “They’re going to kill me.”
Matt later reflected on the incident, saying it felt like someone wanted to harm him. His family is still shaken by the experience. His 13-year-old daughter woke up to find police officers in their home, and he struggled to explain that they were not the bad guys. He believes the situation could have turned deadly if he had answered the door instead of Erin. He noted that a man with a gun at the door could have led to a tragic misunderstanding.
Fortunately, the Van Swol family lives in a close-knit community where neighbors have checked in on them after the incident. Matt shared the story on social media, praising the officer who responded alone as a hero for entering a potentially dangerous situation without backup.
Since the swatting attempt, the family has faced more harassment, including prank pizza deliveries to their home. They now have a sign on their door warning delivery drivers that they did not order anything.
Matt, a conservative social media influencer, has gained a significant following after raising awareness about the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in 2024. He expressed confusion about why he became a target for swatting, asking what he could have said to provoke such a dangerous prank.
Swatting is not a new issue. The FBI has warned about its dangers for years. There have been numerous incidents involving public figures, including politicians and celebrities, who have faced similar threats. The FBI has stated that swatting puts both victims and first responders at risk.
So far, no arrests have been made in connection with the recent wave of swatting incidents targeting conservative influencers. However, officials, including Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and FBI Director Kash Patel, have promised to investigate and hold those responsible accountable.
Matt Van Swol hopes for justice and encourages a calmer political climate. He believes no one should have to fear for their safety because of their online opinions.