California teen arrested in ‘swatting’ name on Florida mosque, could also be related to different incidents nationwide

A California teen has been arrested in reference to a swatting name that focused a mosque in Florida, authorities say. 

Alan Winston Filion, 17, of Lancaster, California, is dealing with a number of felonies after police say he performed a swatting name on the Masjid Al Hayy Mosque in Sanford, Florida final yr. 

“Swatting” targets a person by calling in a false police report on a house – or on this case, a mosque – to impress a SWAT crew response. 

Seminole County regulation enforcement acquired a telephone name on Might 12, 2023, from a person who informed police he was coming into the mosque, situated at 786 Myrtle Road to conduct a mass capturing. 

Alan Winston Filion was extradited to Seminole County, Florida, on January 30, 2024, and booked into the John E. Polk Correctional Facility on a no-bond standing.   (Seminole County Sheriffs Workplace)

The caller made references to Satanism and informed police he had a handgun and explosive units, the sheriff’s workplace stated. The caller performed audio of gunfire within the background. 

Roughly 30 regulation enforcement officers responded to the Masjid Al Hayy Mosque. After discovering no shooter and the mosque protected, the decision was decided to be a swatting incident. 

SCSO’s Home Safety Division (DSD) investigated the incident together with the FBI and decided that Filion was behind the Might 12 swatting name. 

WASHINGTON STATE MAN CHARGED IN MORE THAN 20 SWATTING CALLS IN US, CANADA PLEADS GUILTY

Investigators additionally decided he was behind different swatting incidents, having created a number of on-line accounts that provided “swatting services.” Numerous IP addresses related to those accounts led investigators to Filion’s California tackle. 

The FBI executed a search warrant for his residence on July 15, 2023. Based mostly on the knowledge gathered and the incriminating proof obtained from the evaluation of the units seized, a warrant was obtained for his arrest. 

The Masjid Al Hayy Mosque, as seen from Myrtle Road in Sanford, Florida. (Google Maps)

Filion was taken into custody by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department on January 18, 2024. He was booked into the Los Angeles Padrinos Juvenile Corridor earlier than being extradited to Seminole County, Florida on Thursday and booked into the John E. Polk Correctional Facility on a non-bond standing. 

Filion is being charged as an grownup with false stories, illegal use of communication units, and swatting. 

Investigators imagine Filion could also be related to different swatting incidents throughout the US. Ought to the connection be made, native authorities will examine these circumstances inside their jurisdictions and beneath their native authority. 

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP 

Filion’s arrest comes amid a wave of swatting incidents targeting Republican lawmakers, together with on Christmas Day.