STATE CENTER — Marshall County Sheriff’s Office deputies and State Center Police Department officers responded to a false report late Thursday evening.

The report indicated a shooting had occurred at a residential home. When law enforcement arrived on scene at a residence on Third Street SW in State Center, an attempt was made to contact the juvenile who was allegedly inside the residence. After multiple attempts, the homeowner came out of the house.

It was quickly discovered the call to the Marshall County Communications Center was a false report. The sheriff’s office and State Center police officers checked similar addresses in State Center to confirm there were no medical emergencies or threats related to the initial call. This is often referred to as a “swatting call.”

The term refers to calling or posting a false report on social media with the intention of creating chaos and provoking a large law enforcement response. Marshall County has received several ‘swat calls’ this year. For Thursday’s situation, the time of night made it difficult for law enforcement to reach residents to ensure there was no threat to the public.

The incident remains under investigation by the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office and State Center Police Department.