Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett’s Virginia home was targeted Wednesday night in what authorities believe was an apparent “swatting” incident, the latest in a growing series of threats and hoaxes aimed at high-profile public officials.
According to Fairfax County Police, officers responded shortly after 9 p.m. after receiving a report of possible gunshots and an argument taking place at Barrett’s residence. Dispatch audio obtained by multiple outlets indicated the caller claimed to hear “two or three gunshots” along with people yelling outside the home.
But when local police coordinated with Supreme Court Police officers assigned to protect Barrett’s residence, they quickly determined the report was false.
“Officers immediately coordinated with Supreme Court Police personnel assigned to the residence and quickly determined that the report was fictitious,” a Fairfax County Police spokesperson said.
Authorities confirmed that no additional emergency resources were deployed once the call was determined to be a hoax. Barrett and her family were reportedly unharmed, and the justice appeared on the Supreme Court bench Thursday morning as scheduled, making no public mention of the incident.
Police responded to a call for the sound of gunshots at the home of Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett last night, but quickly realized it was a swatting call and cleared after meeting with her security detail. This is partial police audio, redacted pursuant to media… pic.twitter.com/fKKSTAVR6F
— Andrew Leyden (@PenguinSix) May 28, 2026
Swatting is a dangerous form of harassment in which someone falsely reports a violent emergency in order to trigger a major police response at another person’s home. In many cases, callers claim there is an active shooter, hostage situation or murder taking place, prompting armed officers or SWAT teams to rush to the scene. The tactic has become increasingly common in political and ideological disputes over the last several years.
The incident involving Barrett comes amid years of elevated threats against Supreme Court justices, particularly conservative members of the court following the 2022 leak of the Dobbs decision draft that overturned Roe v. Wade. Since then, several justices have faced protests outside their homes, threats online and increased security concerns.
One of the most serious incidents occurred in June 2022, when an armed California man was arrested near Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s Maryland home after allegedly planning to assassinate him. Federal authorities said the suspect was angry over the leaked abortion ruling and other political issues.
Barrett and her family have also faced previous security scares. Earlier last year, Barrett’s sister in South Carolina was targeted with a bomb threat after authorities received an email claiming an explosive device had been placed in her mailbox. The threat ultimately proved to be false, but investigators noted that suspicious pizza deliveries had also been sent to homes connected to Barrett’s family around the same time.
Law enforcement agencies across the country have increasingly warned about the rise of politically motivated swatting incidents. Federal prosecutors announced charges in 2024 against foreign nationals accused of participating in a large-scale swatting conspiracy targeting lawmakers, religious institutions and government officials across the United States.
As of Thursday afternoon, no suspects had been publicly identified in the Barrett incident, and Fairfax County Police said the matter remains under investigation.
