A Florida<\/a> teenager is accused of falsely claiming he was shot and abducted before disappearing with camping gear and later shooting himself in the leg, authorities said.<\/p>\n Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods announced the allegations Monday in a Facebook video, saying 17-year-old Caden Speight\u2019s abduction claims were “proven to be false.”<\/p>\n The investigation began Friday after urgent messages from Speight prompted an Amber Alert and a large law enforcement response. Authorities said he texted his family claiming he had been shot and abducted, sparking the alert.<\/p>\n The Amber Alert,<\/a> issued Sept. 25, said Speight was last seen that afternoon wearing a T-shirt and jeans and might have been with four men in a light-colored van \u2014 information authorities later determined was unfounded.<\/p>\n COLORADO PARKS AND WILDLIFE RANGER CHARGED WITH STAGING FAKE STABBING INCIDENT THAT LOCKED DOWN SCHOOLS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n The sheriff\u2019s office launched an extensive search<\/a> using detectives, aviation, field force and mounted units. By the next day, investigators said there was no evidence Speight had been abducted by men in a van. Instead, they noted he may have left on a black bicycle with camping gear he had just bought at a Walmart in Ocala.<\/p>\n He was later found safe in Williston, about 20 miles southwest of Gainesville.<\/p>\n Woods commended his deputies Monday for working through the night to find Speight.<\/p>\n VICTIM’S GIRLFRIEND AMONG 9 TEENS ARRESTED IN 16-YEAR-OLD’S BEACH TOWN MURDER<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Caden Speight is pictured in a photo released by authorities. The Marion County, Fla., teen\u2019s disappearance on Sept. 25, 2025, prompted an Amber Alert and large-scale search.<\/span> (Marion County Sheriff’s Office)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n “Because of their hard work, the initial details that Caden texted to his family were proven to be false \u2013 completely made up,” Woods said. “We did find evidence of a single gunshot where Caden left his truck. However, his claims that he had been shot and abducted were quickly disproven. We then learned that he had purchased a bicycle, tent and camping supplies just prior to him reporting this.”<\/p>\n Woods said there were “an alarming amount of red flags” that required investigation, but there were also witnesses who contradicted the teen\u2019s story.<\/p>\n MANHUNT FOR ALLEGED KILLER DAD REIGNITED AFTER CAMPERS REPORT POSSIBLE SIGHTING OVER HOLIDAY WEEKEND<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Caden Speight appears in an undated photo. The 17-year-old from Marion County, Fla., was located safe after sparking a multi-agency search when he went missing Sept. 25, 2025.<\/span> (Marion County Sheriff’s Office)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n “Caden simply rode away towards Williston while the rest of us were left to think the worst and my team was working in overdrive to solve this case,” he said. “To continue the ruse, Caden, who had a handgun with him since the beginning of all of this, chose to shoot himself in the leg, causing a non-life-threatening injury just prior to walking out to the roadway where he would be located by citizens in Williston.<\/p>\n “There is ZERO chance that Caden\u2019s gunshot wound came from any type of assailant,” Woods added.<\/p>\n CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP<\/u><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n![\"Caden](\"https:\/\/www.jubi24.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/florida-teen-fakes-abduction-shooting-amber-alert-fox-news-002.jpg\")
<\/div>\n![\"Caden](\"https:\/\/www.jubi24.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/florida-teen-fakes-abduction-shooting-amber-alert-fox-news-003.jpg\")
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