FAIRFAX COUNTY — An apparent swatting incident targeted the home of Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett in Fairfax County on Wednesday night. Fairfax County Police received the call through the department’s nonemergency line just after 9 p.m. ET.

According to a recording of the police dispatch, a caller who identified as a neighbor reported, "Gunshots heard" at Barrett’s address. A dispatcher later said, "Be advised, we have not been able to get an answer on callback to the complainant’s phone number." Another dispatcher noted, "Unknown if it’s going to be a swatting situation or not." The dispatcher also said the address "has 24-hour security coverage for a high-priority resident of the county."

Officers immediately coordinated with Supreme Court Police personnel assigned to the residence and quickly determined that the report was fictitious. No additional police resources were utilized, according to a Fairfax County police statement.

Swatting refers to hoax emergency calls that prompt law enforcement responses to harass, intimidate or otherwise harm the targets. Barrett was on the bench Thursday morning for decisions and made no mention of the Wednesday incident in her bench remarks. She read aloud summaries of two opinions she authored.

The incident occurred as federal judges have faced increasing threats. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in his annual report in 2024 that the number of threats against judges has tripled over the last decade. The U.S. Marshals Service reported 564 threats against judges in fiscal year 2025.

Other recent incidents have involved Supreme Court justices. In March 2025, Barrett’s sister Amanda Coney Williams was the target of a bomb threat at her home in Charleston, South Carolina. Separately, a woman was sentenced in October to eight years in prison after pleading guilty to attempting to assassinate Justice Brett Kavanaugh. Authorities said she was found near Kavanaugh’s home in 2022 armed with a handgun, a knife, pepper spray and burglary tools.