MARION COUNTY, Fla. – A Canadian man was arrested Wednesday after swatting calls involving a school shooting threat and hostage situation, according to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.
William Tuckett, 20, of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario was picked up by police at his home.
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In February, deputies said they received a report about an active shooter at Dunnellon Middle School, prompting a large response by law enforcement.
Audio of the 911 call was released on Monday, which shows the caller identified himself as a resident named “Nick” and claimed he was going to go into the school to “shoot everyone.”
You can listen to the full 911 hoax call by clicking in the audio player below.
“I’ve been just feeling really suicidal lately, and people have been bullying me, as well at that school,” the caller states. “And I’m about to just honestly just shoot some kid right now. I have a gun pointed at one kid already.”
That incident turned out to be a hoax.
The sheriff’s office said there was another false call the next day about a hostage situation in Ocala, which sparked another response by law enforcement.
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Investigators said they identified Tuckett as the person behind the call, saying he had been talking to a 13-year-old in Marion County who he believed he was in a relationship with. Deputies said the hoax calls began when the teen victim cut off communication.
Tuckett faces three counts of public mischief and three counts of conveying false information.
Tuckett was released following a bail hearing and is scheduled to appear in court on April 22, Sault Ste. Marie police said.
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