A 17-year-old from Dunnellon, Florida, found himself in hot water after allegedly orchestrating his own kidnapping, an incident that led to a statewide AMBER Alert, authorities reported.

The drama unfolded on September 25 when the Marion County Sheriff’s Office was called to investigate what was initially believed to be a shooting. The teenager had alarmed his family with a text message claiming he had been shot. Upon arrival, deputies discovered his truck abandoned, marked with a bullet hole and traces of blood on the windshield.

According to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, crime scene technicians noted several telling signs: a bullet hole piercing the windshield, suspected bloodstains, a heavily damaged cellphone, drag marks in the dirt, and bicycle tracks that seemed to lead away from the vehicle.