A residence in a tranquil neighborhood attracted a large group of armed police officers following reports of gunshots and cries of “I’ve been shot” from a neighbor. However, upon investigation, law enforcement discovered a different scenario.
Authorities swiftly responded to the incident in Ferring, near Colchester, Essex, after a local resident dialed emergency services fearing a severe injury in the village. The swift arrival of armed officers, ambulances, and an air ambulance at approximately 3:30 pm on Saturday, April 18, was prompted by potential gunfire.
Contrary to expectations, the officers encountered no firearms or casualties but instead encountered someone playing Call of Duty loudly on a new sound system. Images from the scene depicted numerous police vehicles parked on the village road, with about a dozen officers, some armed, and one with a chainsaw, moving towards the residence. Despite the initial alarm, authorities confirmed the absence of weapons and injuries.
The realistic gunfire sounds and loud shouts from the game led a nearby individual to alert the police, triggering a full emergency response, as reported by Your Southend. A spokesperson from Essex Police stated, “We received a call expressing concerns that an individual might have been injured with a firearm at an address in Sherwood Way around 3:35 pm on Saturday, April 18.”
“Armed officers promptly attended the scene with the assistance of emergency service partners and confirmed the absence of firearms and injuries.” Essex Police mentioned that the emergency call was made with good intentions.
In 2025, the Essex Police armed response unit responded to approximately 14,000 incidents and apprehended 336 individuals. Similar incidents have occurred previously, such as when armed police hastened to Hussar’s Coffee House in Hampton Wick, south west London, mistaking prop guns for real weapons during a film production.
During the 2016 incident, actors, crew members, and makeup artists were filming at the cafe when three police officers with firearms arrived, causing a disruption. The Metropolitan Police clarified, “Police were called at 15:47 hrs on Sunday, February 21, to High Street, Hampton Wick, following reports of a man possessing a firearm. Upon arrival, it was determined to be a film production, with no criminal offenses disclosed.”
