Man recants shooting story that caused lockdown at high school

SHELBINA, Mo. -- A northeast Missouri man recanted a story about getting shot by a trespasser and told authorities he shot himself, the Missouri State Highway Patrol said.

The man was shot in the abdomen with a small-caliber rifle on Aug. 17 in rural Shelby County. He first told investigators he was shot by an intruder on his property, prompting a manhunt and a temporary lockdown at a nearby high school where some sports teams had been practicing before the school year began.

On Friday, the patrol said the man admitted making up the story and said he accidentally shot himself while carrying the rifle.

The findings by the Shelby County Sheriff's Department and the Missouri State Highway Patrol will be turned over to the Shelby County prosecutors for review, the patrol said.