York police are searching for a suspect in a “swatting incident” after police fell for a prank 911 call and burst into an innocent family’s home in Richmond Hill Sunday morning.

Police received a call from a man in distress on May 24 around 5:45 a.m. The man claimed his father had shot one of his family members with a rifle and was coming for him next.

“He is going crazy, he’s got his gun out,” the caller said to police in the 911 call.

"He is shooting his gun," the caller added.

The man told police in the 911 call that he was in immediate danger and needed police assistance. 

“He has a big assault rifle,” the man said. 

When York Regional Police arrived at the home, officers made the decision to immediately enter the home to save the man who said he was hiding “in the closet” from his father.

Police entered the home and found two adults and two children sleeping, with no knowledge of the situation and in no danger.

After investigating, police determined that the call to 911 was a hoax. 

“Swatting” is a term for a prank where people call authorities, pretending to be in immediate danger, and give the address of an unsuspecting person’s home. It originated in the United States.

In the past, celebrities such as Ashton Kutcher, Tom Cruise, Miley Cyrus and Taylor Swift have had SWAT teams arrive at their homes after fake 911 distress calls were placed. 

York regional police say that fake 911 calls are not only a waste of resources, but traumatic to all those involved.

“From the family who had their door broken down, to the call-taker who took the 911 call, all the way through the frontline officers who were responding to what they believed was an active shooter, it is a very traumatic situation,” said York regional police chief Eric Jolliffe.

No one was physically injured when police raided the family home on Sunday but “anytime officers make entry to be home in what they believe to be an emergency situation, there is a significant risk,” Jolliffe said.

Anyone with information that could help to identify the caller is asked to contact York regional police at 1-866-876-5423, extension 7241. Tips can also be sent anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.