Nicki Minaj targeted in swatting attack over fake shooting
Nicki Minaj was the target of a swatting attack after someone claimed there was a shooter at her Hidden Hills home on April 9th. A spokesperson for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said they received a report of an assault with a deadly weapon.
The caller allegedly said that a friend shot a female black adult at around 7:05pm and that two possible suspects were still at the location wearing all black.
However, the report was later deemed a false 911 call to provoke law enforcement response. According to The Los Angeles Times, the Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station watch commander said that deputies arrived at the scene and found no evidence of any crime.
While the Sheriff’s Department didn’t confirm whether the call was for the rapper’s home, a neighbour confirmed that law enforcement responded to Minaj’s residence.
The call was made on a business line and was the only report received for an assault with a deadly weapon, which is seen as a common sign of swatting. Shootings typically result in multiple calls, and the business line makes it harder to trace the caller’s identity.
This isn’t the first time Minaj has been the target of swatters. In June 2023, TMZ reported that sheriff’s deputies attended her home after a false child abuse report. A month later, there was a false report of a shooting.
Minaj name-dropped the first swatter on social media, who was charged with intentionally reporting a false emergency.
“To the woman who made those swatting calls to my home,” she wrote. “#WasItWorthItDumbo? Stephanie Bell/ A warrant is in the system. Great detective work. So grateful./ The DA filed one count for the swatting call and one for the false report to DCFS./ To God be the glory.”