Minecraft-streaming gran swatted while raising cash for grandson's cancer care

An 82-year-old grandmother livestreaming Minecraft gameplay to fund her grandson’s cancer treatment was targeted by a swatting hoax. Armed police officers stormed her home while she was asleep after a threat was called in, prompting a full-force response. Swatting typically involves someone finding a streamer’s home and contacting local police with a bomb threat or similar false claim. While many incidents end with minor damage, some have caused injuries or deaths. Despite the danger, she described the experience as unexpectedly positive, including hugs from family and the chance to ride in a police car, then returning to sleep after taking ibuprofen.

"Dozens of armed police officers stormed the home of Sue Jacquot, known online as GrammaCrackers, on May 18 while she was sleeping. Officers were responding to a swatting threat - common hoaxes called in by viewers of livestreams. These incidents typically involve someone locating a streamer's home and calling the local police department, informing them of a bomb threat or similar, which often prompts a full-force response."

"While most swatting cases result in nothing more sinister than a few broken doors, some have led to serious injuries and fatalities. Jacquot, however, was just thrilled to experience being in the back of a police car for the first time and meet people she otherwise never would have had the swatting call not been made."

""I was asleep, I was so asleep," said Jacquot, recounting the event. "I did not want to get up, and these policemen came in the door... the prettiest policewoman I've ever seen. The beautiful eyes. So sweet. But I think she could kick butt if she needed to. She was so sweet. And they walked me out, and I didn't know what was going on, but it was kind of fun.""

""And my kids and my grandkid, they were hugging me. You know, you can't get that much attention normally. I was getting all kinds of hugs. I was really eating it up. It was kind of fun. "And then I got to ride in the police car. I've never been in a police car before... and then it was all over. So I thought, well, I've got to go to bed. So, I took an ibuprofen and went to bed.""

Read at theregister