'Kindness of America' snapper shot himself in 'act of self-promotion'
Hoped shot in the arm would give his book a ...
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The hitchhiking photographer who captured the hearts of a nation after being shot while researching "The Kindness of America", has admitted administering the lead supplement himself and making the rest of the tale up.
Authorities in Montana are considering whether to charge Ray Dolin over the whole sorry saga.
Dolin was found bleeding by the side of a highway on Saturday, June 9. He told authorities that he had been hitchiking across the state as part of his research for a planned "memoir" on the "Kindness of America" when a car had pulled up briefly in order for its driver to pop a cap in his ass (actually, his arm).
Sheriffs subsequently arrested 52 year old Lloyd Danielson, who was slapped with charges of felony assault.
Dolin, for his part, surfed a wave of public sympathy from his hospital bed, practically assured of a guaranteed audience for the putative book.
However, charges were dropped against Danielson late last Thursday, and on Friday authorities said that Dolin had confessed to shooting himself.
The weapon used to administer the fateful, though not fatal, shot had been recovered, they added.
Officials said they believed the snapper's self-plugging was a "desperate act of self-promotion", according to the AP. However, since desperate acts of self-promotion are clearly not a crime in the US, and Dolin is still in hospital, he has yet to be officially arrested or charged.
Sadly for Danielson, while he is off the hook for shooting Dolin, as of Friday he was still facing a possible charge of being under the influence when he was arrested. ®
