A Minnesota school security guard admitted to authorities on Wednesday that he lied about an active shooting after he accidently shot himself, St. Paul, Minnesota police said in a statement
The department reported that Brent Patrick Ahlers, 25, was arrested for filing a false police report.
St. Paul Police said that Ahlers told investigators that he was handling his gun when it accidently discharged, sending a bullet through his shoulder. He originally claimed that while working a guard shift at St. Catherine University that he was shot in the woods by a suspect.
St. Paul Police said that the incident tied down vast resources, including 55 officers, four canines and a Minnesota State Patrol aircraft.
“Last night I was talking to you about an incident that shocked the community,” Sgt. Mike Ernster told the Star-Tribune in a news conference. “It had basically 1,800 students held captive in their dorm rooms at St. Catherine’s, it had residents of the Mac-Groveland and Highland Park communities fearing they would be hurt in their homes.”