Armed officers, one carrying a chainsaw, rushed to a flat in Southend-on-Sea on Saturday after reports of gunshots and a cry of ‘I’ve been shot.’ The alert came around 3:35 p.m., prompting a swift response from firearms units, paramedics, and an air ambulance.
The Dramatic Response
Responders arrived prepared to force entry into the home. Balaclava-clad officers discovered the sounds originated from a gamer immersed in Call of Duty, blasting audio through powerful speakers. The popular first-person shooter, launched in 2003, features realistic warfare simulations drawn from military operations.
Essex Police confirmed no firearms were present and no injuries occurred. The force stood down quickly after verifying the scene posed no threat. An air ambulance had landed nearby at Bournes Green Park, ready for potential medical evacuation.
Public Concern Sparks Action
The 999 call stemmed from genuine worry by a member of the public hearing what sounded like real gunfire. Essex Police stated they acted on concerns of a firearm injury, dispatching armed officers who promptly secured the area.
Similar Past Incidents
In August last year, officers pinned a 16-year-old boy to the ground in another case involving an imitation firearm mistaken for a mass shooter threat. The Metropolitan Police later clarified the boy was likely heading to a comic convention, dismissing social media claims.
Back in 2016, Surrey Police sent firearms teams to a southwest London cafe after reports of guns inside. The scene turned out to be a film set at Hussar’s Coffee House in Hampton Wick.
Essex Police Armed Response Stats
Essex Police deployed its armed response unit for about 14,000 incidents last year, leading to 336 arrests. The unit has not fired shots in public for over a decade, with the last instance in 2015 when a suspect was wounded in the leg and apprehended—the first such event in more than 30 years.
