A 17-year-old in Dunnellon, Florida, has been arrested after allegedly faking his own kidnapping, prompting a statewide AMBER Alert, according to Florida deputies.
On September 25, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office was alerted to what was believed to be a shooting after the teen messaged his family about being shot. Officials found the teen’s truck with a bullet hole and traces of blood on the windshield.
“Crime Scene Technicians noted a bullet hole in the windshield, potential bloodstains, the teen’s heavily damaged cellphone, marks in the dirt indicating dragging, and bicycle tracks leading away from the vehicle,” reported the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.
The deputies disclosed that the teen intentionally shot himself and fired through the windshield, spilling blood in the truck, and later sabotaged his cellphone.
The sheriff’s office added that the teen fled the scene on a bicycle, equipped with camping gear he had bought from Walmart. A witness confirmed seeing him leaving the area on a bike.
He was later found in Williston, Florida, with a gun and the bicycle in his possession.
“He tried to keep up the facade and self-inflicted a gunshot wound to his leg, fracturing his femur and needing medical attention,” stated the sheriff’s office.
Detectives said they later learned he had previously mentioned running away from home. A search of the boy’s laptop also revealed that he searched how to collect his own blood without pain and information on Mexican cartels.
The teenager was arrested on charges of presenting false evidence, shooting into a conveyance, making a false report of a crime, and possession of a firearm by a minor.
