Gamer paralyzed in swatting he warned police about, Now seeking $176 million.

Описание: Axeel Melendez did everything right. He called 911. He warned the sheriff. He was told, "Nothing's going to happen".
The Setup
On April 8, 2026, Melendez was playing the survival game Rust. A player asked to inspect his computer to prove he wasn't cheating. He agreed. Hackers gained access to his email, his address, and his private information.
They demanded money. They threatened to call ICE and report a bomb. Melendez called 911. He told the operator he might be swatted.
"They said they were going to call the police station and say I have a bomb so the FBI shows up".
The dispatcher assured him: "But they can't just call SWAT on you. That's not how that works".
A deputy later visited Melendez's home. He said the department was aware of the threat and that he would be contacted if a suspicious call came in.
The Raid
At 5:40 a.m. on April 10, someone using a Wisconsin number called 311 the non‑emergency line impersonating Melendez. The caller claimed Melendez's father had shot his sister.
The call had "multiple red flags": it came to 311, not 911; the caller mispronounced Melendez's first name; and the number was out of state. A deputy even warned over the radio that the address was a known swatting target.
The deputies still responded.
They broke Melendez's bedroom window with a shovel. Believing intruders were breaking in, Melendez grabbed his mother's legally‑owned handgun. Deputies fired eight shots. Two struck Melendez shattering his leg, breaking his ribs, and severely damaging his spinal cord.
He is now paralyzed from the chest down.
The Lawsuit
Melendez and his mother filed a notice of claim seeking $176 million. Attorney Dev Sethi says Melendez "did everything he was supposed to do".
The claim alleges the sheriff's department showed "rash decision‑making and recklessly dangerous shoot‑from‑the‑hip mentality".
Discussion Prompt:
A man warned police he was being extorted and could be swatted. They responded to a fake call and shot him anyway leaving him paralyzed. Should the sheriff's department pay $176 million, or was this a tragic but unavoidable mistake?
Note:
This post is based on a notice of claim filed in July 2026 against the Pima County Sheriff's Department.
Keywords:
Axeel Melendez, swatting, Rust, paralyzed, $176 million, Pima County, police shooting, gaming, extortion, lawsuit

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