What started as a friendly paintball tournament for DDG turned into a heart-pounding police standoff — all streamed live for thousands of fans.
On Sunday afternoon, the 26-year-old rapper, YouTuber, and streamer was mid-game in Castaic, California, when Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies suddenly stormed the scene with guns drawn.
The reason? A false 911 call claimed a man on the property was brandishing a firearm and threatening people — a dangerous and illegal prank known as swatting.
The Call That Sparked Chaos
According to the LASD, the call came in around the 31000 block of Charlie Canyon Road, just north of Los Angeles. The anonymous tipster alleged an armed man was making violent threats to “harm everyone around him.”
When deputies arrived, they treated the situation as a potential active threat, cuffing DDG on the spot — a moment that unfolded live on his stream, shocking his fans and friends.
Police Quickly Realized It Was a Hoax
After searching the area, officers determined the 911 report was completely false.
- No firearms were found.
- No one posed any danger.
- No arrests were made.
DDG was un-cuffed, and the paintball event was eventually allowed to continue. However, the mood had shifted from competitive fun to shaken disbelief.
DDG’s Lawyer Speaks Out
DDG’s attorney and manager, Dimitri Hurt, blasted the swatter’s actions, calling the stunt “reckless and malicious.”
“The anonymous caller fabricated a claim that DDG was armed and threatening people, which led to an unnecessary and heavily armed police response to a peaceful paintball livestream event,” Hurt told TMZ Hip Hop.
“This disrupted the tournament, caused unnecessary panic, and put everyone — including law enforcement — in harm’s way.”
Hurt emphasized the emotional toll the incident took on DDG:
“Having officers respond under the false belief that you are armed is incredibly distressing and traumatizing. We are grateful no one was harmed, but the damage to the event’s atmosphere was significant.”
DDG Reacts — Calls It a ‘Near-Death Experience’
Later on his stream, DDG described the incident as “a near-death experience”. While he managed to keep a sense of humor about it, calling it “content” for the fans, it’s clear the rapper was rattled by the ordeal.
Police Hunt for the Swatter
Deputies filed a report for a fraudulent emergency call, and the Detective Bureau is now actively investigating to track down the person responsible.
Swatting is not just a dangerous prank — it’s a serious crime that has led to injuries and even fatalities in past cases. In California, it can result in felony charges and prison time.
DDG and his team have pledged full cooperation with authorities to ensure the culprit is found and held accountable.
The Pop Radar Takeaway
DDG’s terrifying run-in with armed officers is yet another reminder of how dangerous swatting can be — especially when it happens in real time during a live broadcast.
Thankfully, no one was physically hurt, but the incident could have ended much worse. For DDG, it’s back to creating content — but this time, hopefully without the near-death experiences.
Do you think swatting should carry harsher penalties? Let us know in the comments, and stay tuned to The Pop Radar for more exclusive updates on DDG’s case.
