A woman who claimed she was shot by a masked man is now facing charges after deputies determined she had actually shot herself.
Around 3:45 a.m. on Monday, deputies in Livingston County were called to a home in Portage where Brittney Ellis, 26, had claimed a masked man had shot her in the leg at her front door.
The bullet entered Ellis’s upper left leg and exited. She was taken to Strong Memorial Hospital for treatment.
A forensic unit was called and evidence was gathered. Deputies went to the hospital to further interview Ellis about the inaccuracies they were uncovering in her story.
Deputies say she admitted making the whole story up and that she says she accidentally shot herself while going outside with a loaded gun to investigate why her dogs were barking. But the Livingston County Sheriff isn’t buying that story, either.
“This woman wasted a lot of time and resources with a fabricated story that sent fear through a small community. My personal opinion is this wasn't an accident at all and this case is far from over. I fully expect a more serious charge in the form of a felony for her tampering with evidence on scene,” said Sheriff Thomas Dougherty.
Ellis is currently charged with third degree falsely reporting an incident, making a punishable false written statement and second degree reckless endangerment.
She’s due back in court next month.
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