A residence in a tranquil neighborhood drew the attention of a swarm of armed police officers following reports of gunshots and cries of “I’ve been shot” from a concerned neighbor. However, upon investigation, law enforcement officers discovered a different scenario.

The incident unfolded in Ferring, near Colchester, Essex, when a resident dialed 999 fearing a serious injury in the area. Responding swiftly, armed officers, ambulances, and even an air ambulance descended on the quiet street around 3:30 pm on Saturday, April 18, prompted by suspicions of a potential shooting.

Contrary to expectations, officers found no firearms or injuries at the scene. Instead, they encountered an individual playing the video game “Call of Duty” loudly on a new sound system.

Images depicted several police cars parked on the village road with approximately a dozen officers, some armed and one holding a chainsaw, marching towards the residence. Despite the initial alarm, authorities confirmed the absence of weapons or casualties.

The realistic sounds of gunfire and loud shouts from the game led a nearby resident to alert the police, triggering a full emergency response, as reported by Your Southend.

A spokesperson for Essex Police stated, “We were called with concerns a person may have been injured with a firearm at an address in Sherwood Way at about 3:35 pm on Saturday, April 18.” The spokesperson further confirmed the absence of firearms and injuries after armed officers swiftly investigated with the support of emergency services.

The Essex Police highlighted that the call to emergency services was well-intentioned. The armed response unit of Essex Police had responded to approximately 14,000 incidents in 2025, resulting in 336 arrests.

This incident is not the first of its kind. In a similar situation, armed police rushed to Hussar’s Coffee House in Hampton Wick, southwest London, mistaking prop guns used for filming as real weapons.

During the 2016 incident, actors, crew, and makeup artists filming at the cafe were interrupted by three police officers carrying firearms. However, it was quickly clarified that the firearms were part of a film production, with no criminal offenses disclosed.

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