For a while, North Ogden police were on the lookout for a gunman who had allegedly held up and shot the proprietor of a roadside corn stand.
On Thursday, however, North Ogden police Sgt. Clark Crowther said the stand owner had changed his story. Now, the embarrassed produce salesman acknowledges, he concocted the robbery and shooting story because he actually shot himself in the lower back by accident.
Dusty Moore, 30, had reported the incident last Saturday, saying a Latino gunman had shot him while robbing his stand near 1920 N. Washington Blvd.
But Crowther said that story soon began to unravel, and Moore finally acknowledged he had made it all up.
"After a thorough investigation and a subsequent interview with the victim ... it has been determined that [he] accidentally discharged his firearm, inflicting a single gunshot wound to his lower back," Crowther stated. "Moore reported the robbery to save himself from embarrassment for accidentally discharging the handgun."
Moore, who has since been released from the hospital and is recovering at home, could be charged with making a false report to police, Crowther said.
Attempts to reach Moore, whose telephone is unlisted, were not successful Thursday.
remims@sltrib.com