Missouri secretary of state swatted after fake shooting called in at family home

Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, a Republican, became the latest victim of swatting on Sunday night after police were alerted to a shooting at his family’s home – which turned out to be false.

Ashcroft recently threatened to remove President Biden from the election ballot as some states work to disqualify former President Trump from the Republican primary ballot because of his actions during the U.S. Capitol protest on Jan. 6, 2021.

Ashcroft said in a press release that he was home with his wife and children when he received a call from the Jefferson Police Department to make sure he was safe after receiving a call about a shooting at his house.

He also said he walked out of his home with his hands in the air as several armed law enforcement officials waited for him outside.

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Jay Ashcroft, Missouri secretary of state, testifies during a Senate Rules and Administration Committee hearing in Russell Building titled "Election Security Preparations: A State and Local Perspective," on June 20, 2018.  (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)

The secretary of state, his wife and his children were not injured in the incident.

After the swatting incident, Ashcroft turned to social media.

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"My home was just swatted," he posted on X. "My family and I are safe. I am grateful to Jefferson City law enforcement for the professionalism with which they handled the situation."

Ashcroft said in a separate statement that he is hopeful the people responsible for the "childish, cowardice acts" are brought to justice.

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Swatting, which is illegal, is when an individual calls in a false police report about a violent crime – like a murder, hostage situation or other crime that would require a larger than normal law enforcement response – to the home of the target.

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Over the past few weeks, several elected officials have been targets of swatting, including Sen. Rick Scott of Florida, Rep. Marjorie Taylor-Greene of Georgia, Rep. Brandon Williams of New York and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

Fox News Digital's Louis Casiano contributed to this report.