The Ames police have arrested a gunshot victim after determining she falsely reported a drive-by shooting, according an Ames Police Department press release. 

Officers responded to a report at approximately 11:10 p.m. on Dec. 11 that there had been a drive-by shooting and found Tracy Flores, 36, with a gunshot wound to the leg. 

Flores and her husband, Rafael Flores, 35, were arrested for false report of indictable offense to public entry after police found the wound was the result of an accidental shooting. 

The Floreses were additionally charged with possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Cmdr. Geoff Huff of the Ames police said officers believed the initial story which remained fairly consistent. He said police on the story were only suspicious with the lack of leads for the shooting after the amount of time that had passed. 

Though the story was upsetting and didn’t make much sense, what they were telling them seemed concrete and they did not have much evidence that they were lying, Huff said.

Police were able to move forward after receiving an anonymous tip which had details that fit the story. 

After interviewing everyone involved again and bringing up the alternative story, people began to be more truthful, Huff said. 

Police got a warrant to search the couple’s home and found the gun which caused the wound and illegal substances and drug paraphernalia. 

As for why they lied, Huff said they probably felt they were going to get in a lot of trouble for the accidental shooting. He added they would be in less trouble if they didn’t lie. 

Huff said the part that upset him and fellow police the most was the lie upset a lot of people, especially those who lived on their street and felt their lives were in danger.