Co-defendant of deadly Call of Duty swatting sentenced to 15 months, barred from gaming

Casey Viner, who admitted to asking an acquaintance to swat a rival after losing a $1.50 bet in Call of Duty, was sentenced for 15 months in prison on Friday, along with being banned from online games for two years. That swatting resulted in a Kansas man’s death two years ago.

Viner pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy and one count of obstruction of justice in April. A U.S. Department of Justice release announced that Viner, 19, will serve 15 months in an Ohio penitentiary. Viner will pay $2,500 in restitution. Judge Eric. F. Melgren also barred Viner from any kind of online gaming for two years. Tyler Barriss, who was responsible for the swatting, received a 20-year sentence in March for that call, as well as other “fake emergency calls.”

Viner and Barriss attempted to send police to the home of Shane Gaskill over a dispute while playing Call of Duty: World War II in 2017. While Barriss ultimately made the call to Wichita, Kansas police, Viner gave Barriss what he believed to be Gaskill’s address, and asked Barriss to make the call. Viner accidentally gave Barriss an incorrect address, and responding officers shot and killed Kansas resident Andrew Finch.

The initial argument was over a wager of $1.50, and Gaskill taunting Barriss to “try something” when threatened. Gaskill was charged with conspiracy, obstruction of justice, wire fraud, and making false statements during an investigation. However, NBC reports Gaskill and his attorney struck a deal, which could lead to the state dropping some or all of his charges.