Fortnite
Fortnite has been named in 3 documented digital harm incidents, including 1 fatality and 3 involving minors. The most common harm domain is Child Safety, followed by Addiction & Mental Health.
Documented Incidents
312-year-old Florida boy subjected to swatting after Fortnite match disputes with out-of-state teenagers
Two out-of-state teenagers were arrested and extradited to Florida for allegedly "swatting" a 12-year-old boy in Poinciana, Polk County. The 15-year-old from Connecticut and 14-year-old from New York reportedly made false emergency calls after losing a Fortnite match with the victim, who was an online gaming friend. The first call on June 4 falsely reported gunshots at the victim’s home, prompting a police response. A second call on June 5, made by the 14-year-old, falsely claimed a man had killed his family at the residence. Both calls led to law enforcement responses and were later traced to the suspects. The teens are now in custody and face felony charges related to false emergency reports and unlawful use of a communication device.
16-year-old girl found stabbed to death in home of Fortnite acquaintance in Japan after online meeting
A 16-year-old girl from Tokyo was found dead in a closet at the home of a 21-year-old man she met through the online game Fortnite. The victim last spoke to her mother on March 28 and said she was visiting a friend in Aichi Prefecture. Her body was discovered on March 31 wrapped in a blanket-like material and covered with tape, with multiple stab wounds from the neck to the shoulder. The suspect, who admitted to abandoning the body, was arrested after police searched his home. Investigators believe the victim and suspect played games together in his room, and he claimed he stabbed her after an argument over the game. The National Police Agency reported that 98 children under 17 were involved in crimes through online games last year, including 11 through Fortnite.
9-year-old New Jersey child targeted by online predator via Fortnite chats and explicit media over several months leading to Ohio man’s arrest and sexual assault charges
A 9-year-old child in New Jersey was targeted by an online predator through the video game Fortnite. Bret Templeton, a 21-year-old man from Kenton, Ohio, allegedly sent the victim sexually explicit chats, photos, and videos. The incident occurred over several months before a woman discovered evidence on the child’s devices and reported it to police. Templeton was arrested in Ohio and extradited to Morris County Jail, facing charges including second-degree sexual assault and child endangerment. Hanover Township police urged parents to monitor their children’s use of internet-connected devices and apps.