Nicki Minaj Targeted in Latest Swatting Incident as False Shooting Report Prompts Police Response Hidden Hills, CA — Grammy-winning rapper Nicki Minaj became the latest high-profile victim of a swatting hoax Wednesday night when an unidentified caller falsely reported a shooting at her Los Angeles-area home, triggering an armed law enforcement response to her vacant Hidden Hills property.

The Incident At approximately 7:05 p.m. on April 9, 2025, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department received a call via its business line—not 911—claiming a Black woman had been shot and two suspects dressed in black remained at the scene. Deputies rushed to Minaj’s sprawling $19.5 million estate, purchased in 2022, but found no occupants and no evidence of criminal activity. The call was later classified as a swatting attempt, a deliberate act to provoke an emergency response.

A Pattern of Harassment This marks the third swatting incident targeting Minaj since summer 2023. Previous false reports included a July 2023 child abuse allegation and an August 2023 shooting claim at the same property. Law enforcement sources confirm Minaj and her family were not on the West Coast during Wednesday’s incident.

Swatting’s Dangerous Trend The prank reflects a growing national crisis, with the FBI investigating over 100 swatting threats across 42 states during a single month in early 2024. Recent high-profile targets include Jennifer Aniston, JoJo Siwa, and Arnold Schwarzenegger. The practice carries deadly risks: In January 2025, Atlanta rapper Young Scooter’s associate died after fleeing police during a swatting call, severing a femoral artery while jumping a fence.

Law Enforcement Challenges Authorities note swatters often use business lines to avoid detection, as seen in Minaj’s case. “Legitimate emergencies typically generate multiple calls,” a Sheriff’s Department spokesperson explained. “Single-source reports through non-911 channels frequently indicate swatting.”

Ongoing Investigations No arrests have been made, but the incident underscores mounting concerns about celebrity security and public safety. Minaj previously confronted 2023 swatters on social media, writing: “To the woman who made those swatting calls… Was it worth it?”

As swatting escalates into a national security threat, lawmakers and law enforcement continue grappling with solutions to prevent these dangerous, resource-draining hoaxes.