Seventeen-year-old Elijah Saraki from Kentucky found himself in a heart-stopping situation when he unintentionally swatted himself while playing the popular video game, Rainbow Six Siege. In a moment of excitement after securing two kills in the game, he accidentally triggered an emergency SOS call on his iPhone, leading police to his home with reports of a double homicide.
Elijah recounted the nerve-wracking experience, detailing how his casual gaming session took a turn for the worse. “We were in the middle of a match, and I, I killed two people. I got two kills, and I… after that, I died,” he shared. Like many gamers, his instinct was to reach for his phone and scroll through TikTok during his downtime in the game. It was then he noticed an alarming missed call.
Panicking, he tried to return the call but couldn’t connect. To his dismay, he started receiving calls from the dispatch center. Before he could fully grasp the situation, his dogs began barking frantically at the front door, their behavior signaling the arrival of someone unexpected. Peeking outside, his heart sank as he realized four police patrol cars had surrounded his home.
During the accidental four-minute call, Elijah confessed to telling the operator he had “killed two people.” When questioned about how he managed to convince the officers of his innocence, he explained that his genuine fear and trembling hands likely played a role. “I was shaking a lot,” he admitted, making it evident to the officers that he was a young man who had made a grave error.
Further explaining the chain of events, Elijah believes he inadvertently triggered the emergency SOS feature on his iPhone by simultaneously pressing the power and volume buttons. This action automatically dials 911, explaining the rapid response of the police.
Upon their arrival, Elijah made the split-second decision to face the officers head-on, walking outside with his hands raised in surrender. Recalling the terrifying experience, he described the moment an officer pointed a gun at him, questioning if anyone else was present and if he was injured.
Fortunately, Elijah’s parents were able to clarify the situation through the home’s security camera footage, revealing the incident as a false alarm. Relieved, the officers lowered their weapons, and the situation de-escalated.
Despite the traumatic experience, Elijah expressed gratitude for the officers’ professionalism throughout the ordeal. He highlighted how they calmed him down, even engaging in conversation about Rainbow Six Siege, inquiring about his favorite operator in the game.
This chilling incident serves as a stark reminder of the potential consequences of accidental emergency calls, particularly in the age of “swatting” pranks. Thankfully, Elijah’s story ended without harm, but it underscores the importance of responsible technology use and the critical need for clear communication in high-stress situations.
