Prosecutor: Man shot self in Paterson, lied to police about it

A Prospect Park man was arrested and accused of lying to police about a self-inflicted gunshot wound in Paterson, authorities announced on Wednesday.

Marcel Priest, 22, was charged with unlawful possession of a weapon, providing a false report to law enforcement, and certain persons not to possess a weapon, according to the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office. 

Priest came to St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center on Tuesday night and told officers he had been shot in the hand, according to the prosecutor’s office. After an investigation police determined the wound was self-inflicted, the prosecutor’s office stated. 

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Priest faces a maximum of 21.5 years in prison based on his charges, according to the prosecutor’s office.

The Prospect Park resident made his first court appearance on Wednesday afternoon. The state filed a motion for pretrial detention that will be heard Sept. 5 before Judge Donna D. Gallucio, the prosecutor’s office stated. 

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