The suspect, Tyler Barriss, appeared in court Wednesday to face charges in the death of Andrew Finch.
More is being learned about the suspect in the swatting prank-call tragedy that led to the death of an unarmed man in Kansas as he made a court appearance Wednesday.
Cops say 25-year-old Tyler Barriss allegedly made a so-called "swatting" phone call from Los Angeles several days ago, telling authorities there was a hostage situation at a house in Wichita. In fact, there was no such crisis.
A police SWAT team surrounded the house and ordered the homeowner to come out. Cops say the homeowner, 28-year-old Andrew Finch, a father-of-two, was shot dead when they believed he was reaching for a gun.
The alleged phone hoaxer appeared in an L.A. courthouse, approximately 1,400 miles from where the deadly shooting happened. Barriss agreed to waive extradition to Kansas.
More is being learned about Barriss' past.
He was reportedly sentenced to two years in prison for calling in a bomb threat to a Los Angeles TV station in 2016.
Authorities say he is also believed to be behind 20 other "threat-related" phone calls, including two at LA-area schools.
Meanwhile, the family of the slain man says they want criminal charges brought against the cop who fired the fatal shot.
"Justice for the Finch family constitutes criminal charges against the shooting officer and any other liable officers as well as damages against the city of Wichita for the policies and practices of its Police Department," the lawyer, Andrew Stroth, who is representing the family, told The Associated Press.
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