Officer says he shot himself accidentally

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LOS ANGELES, Feb. 1 (UPI) -- A Los Angeles school police officer charged with filing a false report about being shot now says his gun went off accidentally, police said.

The Los Angeles Times cited sources who said Jeffrey Stenroos, an officer with the Los Angeles Unified School District, has given several versions of what happened outside El Camino Real High School on Jan. 19. They said the investigation is still under way with detectives unsure if the shooting was simply an accident or if Stenroos had some ulterior motive.

The alleged shooting of a police officer triggered both a massive lockdown and manhunt. Police effectively closed off a 7-mile square around the school for hours.

Stenroos did not have a serious injury, only a chest bruise consistent with being being hit by a shot deflected by his bullet-proof vest. He was arrested last week.