A California gamer faces up to 20 years in prison after admitting to a hoax call that led police to fatally shoot an innocent man in Kansas. Tyler Barriss, 25, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to charges including making false statements and causing a swatting incident.
The case stems from a dispute during an online Call of Duty match involving a $1.50 wager. Barriss was asked by another gamer to 'swat' a third player, but he gave police the address of Andrew Finch, a father of two who was not involved.
Barriss called Wichita police claiming he had shot his father and was holding hostages. When officers arrived, Finch stepped outside and was shot after allegedly failing to comply with orders to raise his hands. The officer was cleared of wrongdoing earlier this year.
As part of his plea agreement, Barriss will contribute to Finch's funeral costs and face five years of supervision after release. He also admitted to making hoax bomb threats to the FBI, schools, and other institutions.
Two other gamers, Casey Viner and Shane Gaskill, deny charges and await trial. US Attorney Stephen McAllister condemned Barriss's actions as 'trivial' and 'staggering' in their disregard for safety.
