An Indiana man has been arrested after staging an incident at a creek in which he used a rudimentary rig to shoot himself in the back, so that he would look like an assault victim.
According to an Indiana Department of Natural Resources press release, Bloomington resident Peter Raventos, 43, used fishing line and bungee cords to rig up a shotgun that fired a shell into his back. The self-infliction happened around 10 p.m. on June 25, at McCormick’s Creek State Park. At 10:05 p.m., a wounded Raventos called the police.
The 43-year-old told officers that a random passer-by shot him and took off, however thanks to witness information, an investigation of the area of the park revealed a test board embedded with shotgun pellets, a used and unused shell, and the bungee cords and fishing line. Divers also inspected the White River and found a 20-guage shotgun, which was registered to Raventos.
Raventos was treated at an Indianapolis hospital for 20 pellet wounds and later released. He has been charged with obstruction of justice (a Class D felony) and false informing (a Class B misdemeanor), and is being held on $5,000 bond. His motive for staging the crime remains unknown.
The 2,000-acre McCormick’s Creek is located in Owen County and was established in 1916 as Indiana’s first state park.
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