He referred to as legislation enforcement to say he was going to shoot up a Florida mosque. Then, there have been sounds of gunfire.
But it surely was all faux, authorities say. And now, a teen from Lancaster has been arrested on suspicion of phoning within the phony risk.
The incident occurred Might 12, when legislation enforcement in Seminole County obtained a name from somebody who stated he was coming into the Masjid Al Hayy in Sanford, Fla., to hold out a mass capturing.
The caller made references to Satanism and stated he had a handgun and explosives, authorities stated in an announcement.
“He then started taking part in audio of gunfire within the background,” the assertion continued.
Seminole County legislation enforcement responded to the mosque, however when officers arrived they discovered there was no shooter.
Officers decided the decision was a swatting incident — wherein somebody experiences a false crime or emergency at a selected location to impress an aggressive legislation enforcement response, usually from a SWAT staff.
An investigation, carried out in partnership with the Justice Division and FBI, recognized the suspect as Alan Winston Filion, 17, of Lancaster.
Investigators allege they discovered varied IP addresses related to a number of accounts he created on web sites providing swatting providers.
The FBI searched Filion’s dwelling July 15, and a warrant was later issued for his arrest.
On Jan.18, with help from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Division, Filion was taken into custody and booked into Los Padrinos Juvenile Corridor.
He has been charged in Florida as an grownup and faces a number of felony prices, together with making a false report of violence, illegal use of a communication machine, false report back to legislation enforcement regarding fee of a capital felony whereas facilitating or furthering an act of terrorism, and swatting.
Filion was extradited to Seminole County on Tuesday and booked into the John E. Polk Correctional Facility.
Investigators consider Filion might also be related to different swatting incidents throughout the nation.
