Tyler Barriss, accused of making hoax call, regrets death of 'swatting' victim

Tyler Barriss, the California man accused of making a hoax emergency call that resulted in a fatal police shooting in Kansas, has said he regrets the death of Andrew Finch.

Barriss declined, however, to say if he placed the “swatting” call, so called because such hoaxes aim to cause the deployment of heavily armed “swat” police units, that summoned officers to Finch’s house in Wichita.

Speaking to KWCH-TV from the Kansas jailhouse where he is being held on a $500,000 bond after being charged with involuntary manslaughter, Barris said: “As far as serving any amount of time, I’ll just take responsibility and serve whatever time, or whatever it is that they throw at me … I’m willing to do it.”

He admitted that he had been paid to make hoax calls in the past.

Prosecutors allege that on 28 December, Barris, 25, made a fake call to the Wichita police department claiming there was a hostage situation at a home in the south of the city.

Barriss allegedly made the call after an argument between two players in the Call of Duty online game, one of whom allegedly asked Barriss to make the prank call.

When police arrived at the home in Wichita, Finch, 28, answered the door. He was shot, police said, after appearing to reach for his waistband. Officers later confirmed Finch was unarmed and uninvolved in the events that led police to his home.

Barriss faces two to 11 years in prison. He told KWCH-TV: “Whether you hang me from a tree, or you give me five, 10, 15 years … I don’t think it will ever justify what happened.”

In an earlier interview, Barriss said: “Of course, you know, I feel a little of remorse for what happened. I never intended for anyone to get shot and killed. I don’t think during any attempted swatting anyone’s intentions are for someone to get shot and killed.

“I guess they’re just going for that shock factor whatever it is, for whatever reason someone’s attempting swat, or whatever you want to call it.

“It hasn’t just affected my life, it’s affected someone’s family too. Someone lost their life. I understand the magnitude of what happened. It’s not just affecting me because I’m sitting in jail. I know who it has affected. I understand all of that.”

Barris said he could not explain why someone would want to make a swatting call.

“There is no inspiration,” said. “I don’t get bored and just sit around and decide I’m going to make a swat call.”

The Sedgwick County district attorney, Marc Bennett, has said he is still reviewing whether any charges will be filed against the police officer, and once he makes a determination that decision would be made public He said he was awaiting a final autopsy report.