Officers respond to false report of shooting in Whitefish

The Whitefish Police Department responded to a call at approximately 2:19 p.m. Thursday afternoon of a possible disturbance with a weapon and a barricaded subject, but officers quickly determined the claim was not true, according to Flathead County Sheriff Brian Heino. Officers from the Whitefish Police Department, Flathead County Sheriff’s Office, Kalispell Police Department, Columbia Falls Police Department and Montana Highway Patrol assisted in the incident securing a perimeter of the residence. Northwest Montana Regional Swat Team was also deployed and cleared the residence without out further incident. Officers quickly made contact with the person who had allegedly been shot and learned that none of the incidents described on the call actually took place.

Heino said false information spread on social media about the incident created the misconception there was an “active shooter situation.” The investigation is ongoing.