Fake Active Shooter Call Leads to Foot Chase, K-9 Bite, and Two Arrests in Accomack County
Accomack County, VA - A fake active shooter call set off a serious law enforcement response in Accomack County on a recent afternoon, ending with two men behind bars and one of them hospitalized after a K-9 bite.
According to Accomack County Sheriff W. Todd Wessells, the Sheriff's Office received a call at 1:19 p.m. reporting that a Black male, shirtless and with tattoos on his arm, was seen entering a location carrying an AR-15-style rifle. The caller reported that 3 to 4 gunshots were heard immediately after.
Deputies responded to the scene, where a Black male identified as Tyler Malik Bynum, 20, of Accomac, immediately fled the residence upon their arrival. Deputies were unable to confirm whether Bynum had the reported firearm in his possession.
A foot pursuit followed. K-9 assistance was requested, and a perimeter was established as deputies and K-9 units began tracking Bynum through the area.
Bynum was already known to the Accomack County Sheriff's Office. He had active felony warrants related to voter fraud and was a violent convicted felon.
At 3:57 p.m., K-9 deputies reported that one suspect was in custody. Emergency medical services were also requested for Bynum, who suffered K-9 bite injuries after continuing to flee and physically assaulting the K-9 during the pursuit.
Bynum was transported to Riverside Shore Memorial Hospital for treatment. Once released, he was taken into custody on three felony counts of voter fraud. He also faces additional charges for attempted killing or injuring of a police animal and obstruction. Bynum is currently held in the Accomack County Jail with bond denied.
As the investigation continued, authorities determined that the original active shooter call was false. It was a swatting incident - a dangerous act where someone makes a fake emergency call to send a large law enforcement response to a location.
Deputies identified Malik Lee Jones, 19, of Tasley, as the person who made the false call. Jones was charged with one felony count of making a False Emergency Communication to Emergency Personnel Resulting in Injury. He is also currently held in the Accomack County Jail with bond denied.
The Accomack County Sheriff's Office was assisted during the response by Virginia State Police, the Northampton County Sheriff's Office, and the Accomack County Department of Public Safety.
Swatting calls are not just pranks. They pull valuable emergency resources away from real situations, put innocent people at risk, and can lead to serious injuries or worse. In this case, a false call led to a real injury and serious criminal charges for two young men.
If you have information related to this incident or any other criminal activity in the area, you are encouraged to contact the Accomack County Sheriff's Office at (757) 787-1131 or (757) 824-5666. Tips can also be submitted online through the Sheriff's Office website at https://www.co.accomack.va.us/government/constitutional-officers/sheriff.
Disclosure: All individuals mentioned in this article are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Eastern Shore Undercover® does not express or imply any opinion regarding the incident reported.
