Suspect In Deadly Swatting Charged With Involuntary Manslaughter

The world of video games can be incredibly competitive and this is quite apparent in online multiplayer shooters like those in the Call of Duty franchise. However, one instance led to the actual death of a player when a SWAT team was sent to his place by another player. The victim was shot and now the suspect has been charged with involuntary manslaughter.

Los Angeles resident Tyler Barriss, 25, was arrested last month for the suspected Swatting incident that resulted in the death of one Andrew Finch. It was a horrible example of a prank gone wrong, where Barriss pretended to be Finch and called the police to tell them that he was armed and that he had hostages.

As a result, Barriss is now being charged with involuntary manslaughter, which could involve up to 11 years in of imprisonment, the BBC reports. Speaking to the press, the defendant has since expressed remorse for what he had done and said that he understood just how serious the consequences of his actions were.

With regards to the specifics of the case, the incident was apparently sparked by a bet worth a mere $1.50, Ars Technica reports. The online user named SWAuTistic then called local police in Wichita to provide them with the false story and the address of Finch.

The arrest and evident show of remorse by Barriss indicate that he is the real person behind SWAuTistic. As it turns out, Barriss was also suspected of a similar incident when calling police in Calgary before doing the same thing in Wichita.

On top of being charged with involuntary manslaughter, Barriss is also being charged with “giving a false alarm and interference with law enforcement.” The Finch family has also called for the police officer who shot the victim to face similar consequences, but there has been no word on this development, as of yet.