A residence on a tranquil street drew the attention of a group of armed police officers following reports of gunshots and a distress call of “I’ve been shot” from a neighbor. However, the police uncovered a different scenario upon arrival.
Responding to a call from a concerned resident in Ferring, near Essex, law enforcement swiftly mobilized armed officers, ambulances, and an air ambulance to the area around 3:30 pm on April 18. Contrary to expectations of a shooting incident, the officers discovered that the commotion was caused by someone playing the video game “Call of Duty” at high volume on a new sound system.
Pictures taken at the scene depicted numerous police cars lining the village road, with a group of officers, including some armed and one carrying a chainsaw, making their way to the residence. Despite the initial alarm, authorities confirmed no presence of firearms or injuries.
The realistic sound effects of gunfire and loud shouting from the game led a nearby individual to alert the police, prompting a comprehensive emergency response, as reported by Your Southend.
According to a spokesperson from Essex Police, the initial call raised concerns about a potential firearm injury at an address on Sherwood Way. However, upon thorough investigation, armed officers, with support from emergency services, confirmed the absence of firearms and injuries. The police acknowledged that the call to emergency services was made with good intentions.
Notably, the Essex Police armed response unit had responded to approximately 14,000 incidents in 2025, resulting in the arrest of 336 individuals. This incident echoes a previous occurrence in south west London, where armed police were called to a cafe during a filming session, mistaking prop guns for real weapons.
In that instance, officers arrived at Hussar’s Coffee House in Hampton Wick, disrupting filming activities involving actors and crew due to the perceived threat of real firearms. The Metropolitan Police clarified that the incident in 2016 was a misunderstanding, as the “firearm” turned out to be part of a film production, with no criminal activities involved.
