Jane Doe, a former Cornell University student who filed a civil lawsuit alleging she was sexually assaulted by members of the Xi chapter of Cornell’s Chi Phi fraternity, says her family was subjected to a dangerous swatting incident on Tuesday night.
Police response to bogus active‑shooter tip
According to police reports obtained by CNN, a 911 call claimed a man had shot his mother and was threatening his sister. The call was later determined to be false, but officers responded as if an active‑shooter situation were unfolding. When they arrived at the Doe family home in Ithaca, New York, they encountered Doe’s brother and boyfriend exiting a vehicle and pointed weapons at them. The family’s father emerged from the doorway, shouting, “I’m the dad. What’s going on?” and identified his daughter as the Cornell plaintiff.
Doe’s attorney, Thomas Giuffra, told CNN that the police also pointed guns at the father and that the boyfriend was thrown to the ground. Giuffra warned that a “trigger‑happy cop” could have caused a fatal outcome.
Ongoing threats and online harassment
Giuffra said the swatting was part of a broader campaign of intimidation. He estimates dozens of threats have been made against Doe since she filed the 101‑page complaint in mid‑September. Threats have included death threats, doxxing attempts, and a text message containing three gun emojis.
Online personalities with large followings have also tried to uncover Doe’s identity, posting calls for information to their followers. One user on X (formerly Twitter) claimed to have identified her and posted personal details before deleting the post, an act that Giuffra described as doxxing.
Family’s response and safety measures
Frightened by the escalating threats, Doe’s family has taken precautions. Giuffra said Doe spent Wednesday taping paper over the windows of her parents’ home to block the view of potential attackers. The family’s father reported that police placed guns in his face during the incident.
Giuffra emphasized that the family remains strong and determined to protect Doe, stating, “The dad is concerned for his daughter. He can’t believe this has happened out of something where she’s just trying to stand up for herself and be heard.”
Legal background
The lawsuit alleges that fraternity members drugged and sexually assaulted Doe in October 2024 and coordinated the assault via a group chat. The complaint also accuses Cornell University of failing to protect her and to adequately punish the accused students, who deny any wrongdoing.
Since the filing, the university, its campus police, and the Tompkins County District Attorney’s Office have faced scrutiny over their initial handling of the allegations. Student protests have taken place on Cornell’s Ithaca campus, reflecting heightened tension around the case.
Law enforcement investigation
Both local police and the FBI are now investigating the swatting incident. Giuffra shared an audio recording in which a man claiming to be the caller warned, “I’m telling you guys simply, I think you should advise your client to withdraw the case. Otherwise blood will be shed.”
The incident underscores the growing risk of online harassment and false emergency calls targeting individuals involved in high‑profile legal disputes.
Original reporting: El Paso News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
