LOS ANGELES, CA – A report of a possible mass shooting at a Southern California children’s hospital prompted a large-scale police response on Tuesday, only to be later confirmed as a hoax, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.
Authorities said deputies were dispatched to Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital shortly after a call came in around midday on March 12. The caller, who claimed to be inside the facility, told dispatchers he was hearing voices instructing him to harm others. The alarming nature of the threat triggered a swift and expansive law enforcement response across the Inland Empire.
Units from the sheriff’s department and multiple neighboring agencies converged on the hospital, where they initiated a floor-by-floor sweep of the premises. The hospital, located on Anderson Street in Loma Linda, was quickly evacuated and placed under lockdown as deputies searched for an armed suspect.
After a thorough two-hour search, no suspect was located, no shots were fired, and no victims were found. Sheriff Shannon Dicus later confirmed that the incident was a swatting call — a term used for hoax reports meant to provoke a heavy police presence, often under false pretenses of violent or life-threatening situations.
“Dispatch received a call from an individual who said he was at LL Children’s Hospital. He said he was hearing voices that told him to kill people,” the sheriff’s department said in a statement. “Our deputies were inside the hospital within minutes of the call and cleared all levels. It was determined to be a swatting call. The investigation is ongoing. No injuries reported, no shots fired reported, and no suspect(s) were located.”
Swatting is a criminal offense, and the sheriff’s department emphasized that the person responsible could face serious legal consequences once identified. It remains unclear who placed the false call, but authorities are continuing efforts to trace the origin of the threat.
In the immediate aftermath of the scare, the hospital issued a brief statement confirming the police presence and deferring questions to the sheriff’s department, stating: “Law enforcement has responded to the Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital Emergency Department. It is an active investigation.”
Though no one was physically harmed, officials noted the substantial disruption and fear caused by the hoax. Swatting incidents have increased in recent years, targeting schools, public institutions, and high-profile individuals, and often stretching police resources thin.
Authorities are urging anyone with information about the source of Tuesday’s call to come forward. The investigation remains open.
