Teen Lied To Police About Who Shot Him: Bergen County Prosecutor

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — A teen from Garfield and a woman from Elmwood Park have been arrested on charges "stemming from a falsely reported shooting incident in Garfield," prosecutors said.

Damien Flores, 18, of Garfield, and Samantha Delacruz of Elmwood Park, have been charged in connection with the July 26 incident, said the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office.

Prosecutors say that early Friday morning, Delacruz drove Flores to St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Paterson to be treated for a gunshot wound.

The Paterson Police Department responded.

Flores told them that he was shot in a drive-by shooting near Belmont Park in Garfield, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors said that Delacruz provided different details.

Detectives determined that the gunshot "was an accidental, self-inflicted wound that occurred inside Delacruz's vehicle," prosecutors said.

Flores was charged with second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon and fourth-degree false report to law enforcement. He was taken to the Bergen County Jail to await a first appearance in Bergen County Superior Court.

Delacruz was charged with third-degree hindering and fourth-degree false report to law enforcement. She was released to await a first appearance in Bergen County Superior Court.