Garcelle Beauvais says LAPD storming home in swatting incident was 'scariest thing I've ever gone through'
Actress and "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" alum Garcelle Beauvais says she was recently targeted in a swatting incident that prompted the Los Angeles Police Department to storm her home, an incident she described as "the scariest thing that ever happened to me."
Beauvais joined "Good Morning America" on Friday to talk about her new movie, "Terry McMillan Presents: Tempted 2 Love," but first shared details of what she described as the swatting incident.
LAPD confirmed to ABC News that officers responded to a radio call of a shooting around 9:20 p.m. on Jan. 25 where they “found no evidence of a shooting” and said a "swatting report was completed.”
"It was 9:30 at night, I was in my pajamas. I had a beautiful day, I mean just peaceful, my kids were out of the house, luckily. Next thing I know, helicopters over my house, cops swarm my street, bull horns telling me to 'come out of the house,'" she recalled. "I came outside and there were weapons and weapons, rifles pointing at me. The cops were calling me to come to them, and my hands are up, and I'm screaming, 'I'm alone, I'm the homeowner.'"
Beauvais, 59, said that authorities handcuffed her and patted her down once she met them outside.
"I kept saying, 'why am I being handcuffed I haven't done anything,'" she said, to which officers told her "it's protocol."
The LAPD confirmed to ABC News that officers responded to a radio call of a shooting around 9:20 p.m. on Jan. 25, but said they "found no evidence of a shooting" and said a "swatting report was completed."
Beauvais described the incident as "the scariest thing I've ever gone through," adding, "For kids or whomever think that swatting is funny, it is dangerous. It is wasteful of the police's time and so scary. I'm just so happy my boys weren't home."
Despite the traumatic incident, Beauvais said "I've gotten a lot of love and support."
Beauvais reprises her role as Ava in "Terry McMillan Presents: Tempted 2 Love," the highly anticipated sequel to 2024's "Tempted by Love: A Terry McMillan Presentation." The new film follows Beauvais' character, a "star chef," who "heads to Ireland for a major culinary event with her new love, only to find her much-younger ex there too," according to a synopsis.
"Terry McMillan Presents: Tempted 2 Love" airs Saturday, Jan. 31, on Lifetime.
