A Los Angeles county sheriff's deputy falsely claimed last week that he was shot by a sniper and will now be investigated, the Los Angeles Times reported Sunday.

“We are all appalled and disappointed. We took the deputy at his word at first,” Sheriff Alex Villanueva told the outlet. “We intend to hold the individual responsible for breaking the law and most importantly for betraying the community.”

“We know the what and how,” the sheriff added. “We don’t know the why.”

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Deputy Angel Reinosa had claimed on Wednesday that he was struck in the chest while walking to his car in the Lancaster sheriff’s station parking lot.

The allegation led to a manhunt and massive police response.

“The reported sniper assault was fabricated by our deputy,” Assistant Sheriff Robin Limon said at a news conference Saturday, according to the Times.

Though Reinosa was initially taken to a hospital for treatment, detectives said they later saw “no visible injuries,” Sheriff’s Capt. Kent Wegener said.

“There were many things that didn’t add up,” Wegener added.

After the police turned their attention to Reinosa, he eventually admitted to investigators that “he was not shot as previously claimed,” Wegener said.

The deputy said he used a knife to cut two holes in his shirt.