TORONTO

Toronto Police say a boy who claimed to be wounded in a drive-by shooting Sunday in fact had accidentally shot himself.

Const. Victor Kwong said the 13-year-old boy, who was found by police at a bus stop on Driftwood Ave. at Wilmont Dr. around 2 p.m., told police he was the victim of a drive-by shooting. But the teen actually had shot himself with a gun that was given to him by a 17-year-old boy in a nearby apartment on San Romanoway, in the Jane and Finch neighbourhood.

“A 17-year-old gives a 13-year-old a gun,” Kwong said. “The 13-year-old accidentally shoots himself in the leg. The 17-year-old picks up the 13-year-old, takes him over to that bus shelter and says, ‘Tell the cops you got shot here.’”

When police questioned the younger teen he actually gave fake suspect descriptions, Kwong said. Upon further investigation, police uncovered the real story — that the 17-year-old “counselled” the boy to create the fictional tale, he said.

“This kid made up a full story,” said Kwong. “The 13-year-old actually said, ‘I got shot here.’ Gave us a full description of the car, gave us a description of four people inside that car.

“That’s why at first we thought it was a drive-by.”

The 17-year-old, who cannot be identified under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, is now facing 10 charges including possession of a restricted weapon, obstruction of justice and public mischief.

The 13-year-old will not be charged, Kwong said.

shawn.jeffords@sunmedia.ca