“In a news release issued [on the day of the incident], the Richardson County Sheriff’s Office said Deputy Nincehelser saw a car stopped on the rural road and approached to offer aid,” journalstar.com reports. “He was trying to talk to the driver when the person behind the wheel produced a semi-automatic pistol and fired several shots at him. Nincehelser returned fire and then got back into his cruiser and chased the car as it sped away. The sheriff’s office said the chase ended within a few miles because Nincehelser couldn’t see adequately through his windshield, which had been shattered by at least three bullets.” In fact . . .
Friday’s release said that Nincehelser told Nebraska State Patrol investigators that he had, in fact, not been shot by someone, but had accidentally shot himself in the arm. He also said that he fired several shots into his patrol vehicle to make it seem like he had been shot at.
Lesson to be learned: if you create a negligent discharge, don’t try to cover it up. Even if you’re a cop. Unless you’re angling for an Irresponsible Gun Owner of the Day Award. Which Deputy Nincehelser will be free to admire as he thanks his deity that he’s not on the hook for tens of thousands of dollars worth of police man-hours spent seeking his fictional assailant.