The glitz and glamour of Beverly Hills have once again been overshadowed by a chilling security scare. Former The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Garcelle Beauvais was reportedly left “terrified” this past weekend after her Los Angeles home was targeted in a dangerous “swatting” prank.
The Midnight Disturbance
According to law enforcement sources who spoke with TMZ, the incident unfolded Sunday night when a 911 caller placed a bogus report claiming an assault with a deadly weapon was in progress. The caller—who allegedly identified himself as Beauvais’s ex-boyfriend—claimed to be armed with a sawed-off shotgun and told dispatchers that shots had already been fired.
LAPD officers rushed to the scene prepared for a high-stakes tactical confrontation. However, upon arrival, the caller refused to meet with officers, and a sweep of the property revealed no evidence of a crime, no weapons, and no injuries.
A Star Alone and Afraid
Sources close to the actress and producer shared that the ordeal was particularly traumatizing because Beauvais, a mother of three and grandmother of two, was home alone at the time. With no idea that a fake 911 call had been placed, she was reportedly blindsided by the heavy police presence at her door.
While “swatting,” the act of reporting a fake emergency to draw a massive armed police response to a specific location, is often dismissed by trolls as a prank, the reality is a life-threatening situation for the victims and the first responders involved.
A Growing Pattern of Harassment
Disturbingly, this is not the first time the Coming 2 America star has dealt with this specific type of harassment. This weekend’s incident marks the second time Beauvais has been swatted at her L.A. residence, with the first occurring last summer.
Fans of RHOBH will recall that Beauvais has been vocal about security concerns in the past, especially following online harassment campaigns that targeted her teenage son. This latest breach of peace has reportedly pushed the star to take further steps in securing her home and working with authorities to track down those responsible.
What’s Next?
Beauvais is currently spending time with her family as she processes the event. While no arrests have been made yet, the LAPD is continuing to investigate the source of the call. Swatting is a serious crime in California, often carrying heavy fines and potential jail time, especially when it results in a massive deployment of emergency resources.
As of Monday afternoon, Beauvais has not issued a public statement on her social media channels, but sources say she is focused on her safety and preventing a third occurrence.
Catch Garcelle Beauvais, alongside Boris Kodjoe, Lela Rochon, and Vaughn W. Hebron, Terry McMillan Presents: Tempted 2 Love, premiering Saturday, Jan. 31 at 8/7c on Lifetime.
