Man says he was shot – but police say wound appears self-inflicted

A felon, who police say accidentally shot himself in the knee, was booked into jail after officers found drugs and the same gun he shot himself with in his mother’s home on Tuesday.

Fresno police Sgt. Pete Boyer said Rey Flores, 24, told officers Tuesday morning that he was shot on his way to the office of his parole officer, at a bus stop near Divisadero and Fulton streets. A man allegedly got into an argument with him and shot him in his left knee. Flores, of Fresno, then claimed to have walked several blocks to Community Regional Medical Center, where he was treated for a non-life-threatening injury, Boyer said.

Due to inconsistencies in Flores’ statement and his injury, authorities conducted a parole search of his room at his mother’s residence in the 300 block of North Park Avenue. A .22 caliber revolver, multiple .22 caliber rounds and drugs were found inside his room. Police determined the gun was the same weapon Flores shot himself with, Boyer said.

Flores later admitted he found the weapon on the corner of Belmont and Van Ness avenues. He was going to turn it into authorities, Boyer said, when he accidentally shot himself.

After being released from the hospital, Flores was booked in the Fresno County Jail. He faces several felony charges including being a felon in possession of a firearm.

This story was originally published March 7, 2017 at 8:27 AM with the headline "Man says he was shot – but police say wound appears self-inflicted."