Cops: Man shot himself, lied about it

Juan Gell was shot Monday morning, and police did not have to look far for the triggerman.

The White Plains man accidentally shot himself in the midsection and was arrested by county police Wednesday, accused of lying about it. Gell, 21, originally told police he was shot during an attempted robbery about 5:45 a.m. Monday along Cross County Parkway in Yonkers.

Gell even provided a description of the fictional shooter, said police, who at first were looking for a tall man with a long beard. Police then said they believed Gell was shot by acquaintances.

After Gell shot himself, three people who were with him left the scene, leaving him to walk along Saw Mill River Parkway, police said. A private ambulance service that was traveling on the parkway picked him up soon after and brought him to St. John's Hospital Center in Yonkers. He was transferred later that day to Westchester Medical Center, where he underwent surgery.

Police arrested Gell after his release from the hospital Wednesday, charging him with falsely reporting an incident and obstruction of governmental administration, both misdemeanors. Gell was released from county police headquarters in Hawthorne on $1,000 bail, pending a future court appearance in Yonkers City Court.

Thane Grauel and Matthew J. Coyne contributed to this report.

Twitter: @MattSpillane