[nieve]

Given the current state of policing in the US swatting someone has a non-zero chance of getting someone severally beaten, tazered, tear gassed, or just shot. I don't know of any deaths, but there have been some really close calls reported in the press and and injury plus property damage. I don't think that really qualifies as a good prank, more of a harassment/endangerment tactic.

[sizzle]

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5928424

http://www.cato.org/raidmap

Now you know of some deaths

[nieve]

Thanks for the map! I should clarify that I was unaware of deaths specifically attributable to a deliberate swatting incident, the death rate in SWAT raids & no-knock raids is ridiculous. It may be much lower than the death rate from "accidental" shootings of even as specific a group as say young black men who turn out to have no criminal record, are unarmed, and aren't engaged in any criminal activity at the time of the incident, but swatting is more outrageous-seeming to most of the majority who have less worry about being shot by the police. I suspect that the fact that it's a deliberate act of endangerment also increases the perceived significance of the risk - malice is more threatening than incompetence even when it's rare and even if it's less dangerous.

[ChrisNorstrom]

Swat teams are known for "shoot first ask questions later" especially when they've been called in for narcotics. Hell, even playing cards.

"Why did you shoot me I was reading a book." http://www.salon.com/2013/07/07/%E2%80%9Cwhy_did_you_shoot_m...

[tjaerv]

http://filmingcops.com/cops-execute-80-yr-old-man-in-his-own...