An Arkansas man with a gunshot wound initially told police that he was injured in a struggle with a stranger, then admitted he accidentally shot himself, authorities said.
According to a report from the Jonesboro Police Department, an officer responded to St. Bernards Medical Center shortly before 2 p.m. Sunday, where a 20-year-old was being treated.
He first told authorities that he was walking north on State Street toward Cedar Heights when a stranger wearing all black confronted him and pointed a gun at him. The gun went off during a struggle, the 20-year-old said, and he was shot in the hand.
Officers later spoke to the injured man's mother, who said her son was "scared to tell the truth because he doesn't want to go to jail,” according to the report.
The 20-year-old then told authorities that he was walking north on State Street when he picked up a gun from the ground, started playing with it and shot himself. The Jonesboro resident reportedly tossed the weapon back down and went to his friend's house.
Authorities noted they were unable to locate the firearm.
No arrests had been made at the time of the report.
