Cape Canaveral Hospital was briefly placed on lockdown Saturday night following a swatting hoax threat, according to police and hospital officials.
A spokesperson for Health First stated that a false 911 call reported an unspecified threat against the hospital, prompting a large police response. Authorities conducted a thorough sweep of the hospital and surrounding area as a precaution.
Around 7:30 p.m., Cocoa Beach Police posted on Facebook that they were investigating a “suspicious incident” near the hospital but assured the public there was “no credible threat.” By shortly before 9 p.m., officials had given the all-clear.
“Law enforcement has completed thorough sweeps of the area and has found no credible or actual threats. Officers are now scaling back their presence, and normal operations will resume shortly,” police said.
Health First emphasized its commitment to safety, noting that it routinely conducts safety drills and expressing gratitude for the swift response from law enforcement and first responders.
In November 2024, an Arizona man had been arrested and charged after threatening to kill President-elect Donald Trump in a swatting hoax.
Police discovered that the man, Manuel Tamayo-Torres, had a social media thread where he made death threats against Trump. “You’re Caucasian nothing,” he allegedly said in one video. “You’ll earn nothing, Aryan money, that’s all you have. You’re a low life scum, I’ll spit in your [expletive] face [expletive], and if they give me a chance, I’m going to [expletive] bury you myself.”
In another video, Tamayo-Torres allegedly held a rifle.
Tamayo-Torres’ social media images included a photo of the Desert Diamond Arena, the site of the August 23 Trump rally in Glendale, Arizona.
The man also attempted to illegally purchase firearms.
