Georgia State Senator Clint Dixon (R-Gwinnett) is the second Georgia Republican to report being swatted on Christmas Day, with U.S. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA-14) posted about her own experience on social media.
The Gwinnett Police Department (GPD) confirmed to The Georgia Star News on Tuesday the department is investigating after Dixon was swatted on December 25, but a spokesman said the department could not comment about possible suspects or the status of the investigation.
Swatting refers to calling police “and faking an emergency that draws a response from law enforcement – usually a SWAT team,” according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which first noted the crime in 2008. The FBI explained those who report the fake emergencies may intend for misunderstandings between the victims and officers to result in bodily injury.
Dixon told WABE he was watching television while his wife packed for a trip. He explained, “all of a sudden, I heard her, you know, start yelling, there’s police running at the door. She saw on our Ring doorbell.” He told the outlet he found “six officers with guns drawn coming up the steps” when he reached the door. He ultimately learned they were responding to “a fake call or a false call.”
The station reported that police confirmed they “received an anonymous 911 call on Christmas evening about a shooting and hostage situation” at Dixon’s home, prompting the emergency response. Dixon did not respond to a press inquiry from Star News prior to press time.
Greene, who first victim to a swatting in August, confirmed she was the recipient of a swatting attempt on Christmas Day in a post to X, formerly Twitter. “I was just swatted,” wrote Greene, before adding it occurred on “Christmas with my family here.”
I was just swatted.
This is like the 8th time.
On Christmas with my family here.
My local police are the GREATEST and shouldn’t have to deal with this.
I appreciate them so much and my family and I are in joyous spirits celebrating the birth of our savior Jesus Christ!
— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene🇺🇸 (@RepMTG) December 25, 2023
The congresswoman stressed her appreciation for the responding police department, declaring they “shouldn’t have to deal with this.” She added, “I appreciate them so much and my family and I are in joyous spirits celebrating the birth of our savior Jesus Christ!”
In subsequent posts, Greene revealed she was previously swatted on December 21, and posted screen shots of messages written by a man who wrote that “a small, high velocity projectile will soon find its way into her cranium” prior to the swatting. She also posted images purportedly showing the response of Capitol Police, who Greene said interviewed the man via phone.
Greene added that the FBI has not determined a culprit, despite her home being swatted eight times, and promised to introduce “legislation to track down swatters.”
U.S. Representative Brandon Williams (R-NY-22) also reported being swatted in a post to X. He noted law enforcement contacted him before arriving, and “left with homemade cookies and spiced nuts.”
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Georgia Star News, The Virginia Star, and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “State Senator Clint Dixon” by Clint Dixon.
