As far as I’m concerned, they’re both equally liable. If this was a case of mistaken identity rather than a malicious call, we’d all be calling for the cop’s head even though it would have been the same error.
It is very difficult for me to place both parties as "equally liable". Sure, there should be a punishment for the caller, but he didn't kill an innocent man and it sure as hell wasn't his intention to. He just didn't think of the possible consequence. In no way, shape or form does that equal to "actually put a bullet in someone innocent", which is exactly what that officer did.
I can't fathom how someone can invite an armed squad to some location, under the pretense that a violent crime is in progress, and not have the slighest inkling about the ways things can go wrong in that situation.
Felony murder. If someone does in the process of a crime being committed the person committing the crime can be charged with felony murder.
I don't know the details of the case, so I can't comment on the SWAT officer. But the person illegally calling for SWAT should be charged.
Swatting is a form of domestic terrorism. The caller wasn't someone trying to waste time, that was someone who wanted to potentially turn someone else's life upside down.
Because it's a gaming community, so they're not really trying to shield their identities, which led to this article, in which I read the news first (note: different than the source of this thread): http://www.kansas.com/news/local/crime/article192111974.html
He intentionally created a situation where it was very possible and forseeable that innocent people could be be killed. I believe that's more serious than voluntary or involuntary manslaughter.
