NATCHEZ — A man who was allegedly shot Monday admitted Tuesday he accidentally shot himself in the leg, Police Chief Mike Mullins said.

Dantrell Gaines, 20, 16 Grafton Heights, called the police department Monday night saying he’d been shot. Gaines said he was getting out of his car when he heard a gunshot. He didn’t realize until 20 minutes later that he had been shot in the leg, he said.

Tuesday, Gaines told a different story.

Gaines and two acquaintances were outside Holiday Apartments on Old Washington Road when the gun went off, Mullins said.

“After more interviews with the victim, he admitted that the story he told wasn’t true,” Mullins said. “He admitted that he and two acquaintances were playing with a .22 caliber revolver and accidentally fired.”

Mullins said Gaines told his office where the gun was — in a vehicle — and they located it.

“We are still trying to locate the individual the victim claims brought the gun to the area,” Mullins said. “(Gaines) claims he dropped the gun and it fired. He said he did not want the acquaintance — who might be a juvenile — to get in trouble.”

So far, no charges have been filed, he said.

“It appears to be an accidental shooting,” Mullins said. “(Gaines) could be charged with making a false report at a later date.”

At first, Gaines said he was getting out of his parked car in front of the apartments when he heard a gunshot. Gaines said went inside the apartments and played card games with friends for roughly 20 minutes before he realized he had been shot, Mullins said Monday.