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Feds charge Calif. man, Kan. online gamer in deadly hoax call

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Federal prosecutors have indicted two online gamers and the California man accused of making the hoax calls that led a police officer to fatally shoot an unarmed man in Kansas.

Barriss- photo courtesy Glendale, Calif. police

The indictment unsealed Wednesday charges Tyler Barriss with conspiracy, false information and hoaxes, cyberstalking, interstate threats and other charges.

Gamers Casey Viner, of Ohio, and Shane Gaskill, of Kansas, face conspiracy, obstruction of justice and wire fraud charges.

Court documents do not list attorneys, and Barriss’ attorney in a related Kansas case did not immediately return a message. First court appearances for all three men are set for June 13.

Barriss is accused of calling Wichita police from Los Angeles on Dec. 28 to report a shooting and kidnapping at a Wichita home. A responding officer fatally shot 28-year-old Andrew Finch after he opened the door.

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