False shooting report leads to weapons, drug charges for Somers man

SOMERS, N.Y. - A Somers man who claimed he was shot by an unknown intruder outside his home has instead been charged after investigators determined the wound was self-inflicted and the incident fabricated, according to New York State Police.

Troopers from the Somers barracks responded around 12:15 a.m. on May 8 to a residence on Narcissus Drive for a report of a shooting.

Police said the victim, identified as 47-year-old John Fiore, told responding troopers he opened the front door and encountered an unknown man standing on the steps, who allegedly fired a single handgun round that struck him in the left knee.

However, a subsequent investigation by the State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation in Somers determined Fiore’s injury was self-inflicted and that the reported shooting never occurred, authorities said.

Later that day, investigators executed a search warrant at Fiore’s home, where police said they recovered numerous firearms, including two reported stolen weapons, psilocybin mushrooms and multiple baggies containing a white powdery substance.

Fiore was charged with second-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a Class A felony; seven counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, Class C felonies; fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a Class D felony; six counts of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, Class D felonies; two counts of seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, Class A misdemeanors; and falsely reporting an incident in the third degree, a Class A misdemeanor.

Police said Fiore was arraigned May 9 before a Westchester County judge and remanded to custody. He remains hospitalized and was scheduled to appear in Somers Town Court on May 11.