UPDATE 8/18/24, 9:30 PM: An official statement from the Avalon Police Department states that the caller was reporting a murder on the 7700 block of Dune Drive. The caller threatened that any Police who came to the home would also be killed.

The Avalon PD arrived on scene with the Cape May County SWAT Team. When they approached the home, the renters occupying it at the time claimed no crime had been committed, then allowing the Police to investigate and clear the scene.

It has subsequently been determined that this is an incidence of “swatting”, which is when someone calls a heavy Police presence to a home or business as a prank. This is the 2nd such incident that the Avalon PD have responded to this week, with the 1st being a false bomb threat against a local hotel.

No one has been apprehended in connection with either incident at this time, though they are being actively investigated. Anyone with any information on either crime should call the Avalon Police at 609-967-3411.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: The Avalon Police Department responded to threats of a bomb at an Avalon hotel this evening. Users on Facebook reported seeing the Police along with what appeared to be a SWAT team at the South end of town. Jill Picklo reportedly witnessed someone being stopped by the Police at gun point, though at this point it is unknown if they were connected to the threats.

User Karen McNichol said that the threat was phoned into the Concord Suites, though other Facebook users claimed to see activity at the neighboring Icona Avalon as well.

At this time there has been no word on whether an actual bomb was detected at the site, though the majority of these kinds of threats usually prove to be false.

Either way, the reaction from our first responders appears to have been swift. We will provide more information if or when it becomes available to us. At this time there does not seem to be any immediate threat to the general public.

Cover image created with Midjourney prompt: flashing lights on top of a police car at night.