A 41-year-old Westminster man whose report that an intruder confronted him in his home and shot him and intensive police searches, could face criminal charges for filing a false report, the Carroll County Sheriff’s office said Tuesday.
Sheriff’s officials are not releasing the man’s name, pending the filing of criminal charges.
On Friday, the man told police he was shot by a 30-to-40-year-old white man who confronted him in his home in the 300 block of Gorsuch Road and later ran away.
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The man who made the report was wounded in his right hand and leg and was flown by Maryland State Police helicopter to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center for treatment.
Sheriff’s officials said in a press release that they interviewed the injured man Monday at the University of Maryland Medical Center, where he admitted he accidentally fired off a gun in his home and there was no confrontation.
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The incident sparked a massive police search on the ground and by helicopter, and schools and businesses in the area were put on lockdown.
Officials also said during initial investigations, “a source close to the wounded male indicated to investigators that the wounds may have been self inflicted.”
Anyone who may have witnessed or have any information regarding this incident is asked to contact Detective Fred Timms of the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office at 410-386-2900.
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