Austin Child, age 23, of 64 High Street, Dixfield, Maine

NASHUA – A 23-year-old man from the west-central Maine town of Dixfield has been charged in Nashua with offenses that accuse him of shooting himself in the foot – both literally and figuratively.

Police said officers responded over the weekend to St. Joseph Hospital for a report of a man with a gunshot wound, and upon arrival spoke with the supposed victim, Austin Child, who was suffering from a gunshot wound that police described as not life-threatening.

Upon further investigation, however, police determined that Child, of 64 High St. in Dixfield, had allegedly “shot himself in the foot and had not been the victim of any crime.”

They said detectives with the department’s Criminal Investigation Division were notified of the incident, and assisted patrol officers with the investigation.

They ultimately charged Child with one count each of reckless conduct with a deadly weapon, a Class B felony, and false report to law enforcement, a Class A misdemeanor.

Child was booked on the charges and later released on $290 cash bail pending arraignment, which will take place in Hillsborough County Superior Court South on a date that has yet to be determined.

Police ask that anyone with any additional information on the incident to call the department’s Crime Line at 589-1665.

Dean Shalhoup may be reached at 594-1256 or dshalhoup@nashuatelegraph.com.

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