FRIENDSWOOD — A residential street in Friendswood was briefly the scene of a police response Tuesday evening after a report of a shooting turned out to be a hoax.

According to the Friendswood Police Department, officers were dispatched around 5:30 p.m. on July 29 to the 300 block of Brigadoon Lane following a call that claimed a shooting had occurred at the location. Upon arrival, officers quickly determined that no such incident had taken place. The call was identified as a case of “swatting.”

Swatting involves falsely reporting a serious crime—such as a shooting or hostage situation—to provoke a large law enforcement response, often involving SWAT teams. Authorities warn that the practice is both dangerous and illegal.

“Swatting is not a prank—it’s a crime that wastes emergency resources and puts lives at risk,” the Friendswood Police Department said in a statement.

An investigation into the origin of the call is underway. Anyone with information is urged to contact Friendswood police through their non-emergency line at 281-996-3300.