LA County Sheriff’s Deputy Admits To Concocting Sniper Story

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) Deputy Angel Reinosa admitted to fabricating a recent story about being shot by a sort of “sniper.” At a press conference Saturday, LASD Homicide Bureau Captain Kent Wegener confirmed that there was no such sniper incident.

“There was no sniper, no shots fired, and no gunshot injury sustained to his shoulder,” Wegener said. “Completely fabricated.”

Reinosa, 21, had claimed to have been shot from a fourth-floor window of an apartment building across the street from the sheriff’s station in Lancaster, a city located about 70 miles north of downtown Los Angeles. The apartment in question was known to house individuals with mental health issues, according to Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris.

At the time, it was believed that the deputy’s bulletproof vest had saved him by deflecting the bullet to his shoulder. In his statement, Parris described the hypothetical gunman as a “sniper.”

Reinosa was taken to the hospital and treated for a minor wound. No shooter was found but the sheriff’s department was able to retrieve a pellet gun from the apartment building.

The deputy has since explained that he cut his shirt to make it look like he had been shot.

Since admitting to making up the story, Reinosa has been relieved of his duties and a criminal investigation is underway.

According to CNN, he has yet to give a motive for fabricating the incident.