Teen who claimed he was shot, kidnapped faked his disappearance, deputies say

OCALA, Fla. (WCJB/Gray News) - A 17-year-old in Florida is accused of faking his disappearance that set off a frantic Amber Alert search.

Marion County Sheriff’s Office officials are calling the disappearance a “hoax.”

A Florida Amber Alert was issued for the 17-year-old on Thursday evening, shortly after reports of a shooting in Dunnellon off Highway 484.

Many of the details initially released about his disappearance were based on a text message he sent to his mom. He told her that he’d been shot and kidnapped by four Hispanic men in a light-colored van.

Investigators have since learned those details were made up. Deputies say the teen simply left the area on a bicycle he’d purchased earlier in the day.

He was found on Friday around noon in Williston. Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods said the teen, who had a handgun in his possession, shot himself in the leg, causing a non-life-threatening injury, shortly before coming out of hiding.

At this time, the 17-year-old has not been charged with any crimes for the alleged false reports; however, the sheriff says charges are still on the table. “Trust me, it is on my mind,” Woods said in a video statement on the sheriff’s office’s Facebook page.

The sheriff says the teen’s parents are preventing detectives from questioning him.