OCALA - A teenager who shot himself in the leg and then told police he was held up by two men, one of whom shot him, was arrested for giving a false report to law enforcement.

The young man, age 17, was found Thursday in the parking lot of North Roads Apartments with a gunshot wound to his right leg. He was taken to Ocala Regional Medical Center for treatment.

Detective Mat Steckman of the Ocala Police Department talked with the teen, who claimed he was outside his apartment when two men approached. He said one of them took out a handgun and shot him in the leg, then both men ran away.

As an evidence officer was taking photographs of the injury, Steckman told the teen that it looked like he had shot himself. The detective told him that a number of officers were working to find the men and asked him if he had shot himself. The teen said yes.

He said he had a gun in his pocket and two males came up to him. He said he got scared, pulled out the gun and shot himself in the leg by accident.

The detective arrested the teenager early Friday.

- Austin L. Miller