Caden Speight, Dunnellon, Marion County, Florida teen feared who faked his own shooting and abduction at the hands of 4 Hispanic men

Dunnellon, FL – A Florida teenager who triggered a statewide Amber Alert last week after claiming he had been shot and abducted by four Hispanic men fabricated the story and even shot himself to keep up the ruse, according to authorities.

Caden Rex Speight, 17, texted his mother that he had been shot and was being held by four men, sparking a frantic search and an Amber Alert in Dunnellon, about 80 miles northwest of Orlando. Deputies soon discovered his bullet-riddled truck abandoned, with his phone going straight to voicemail, fueling fears that the teen was in grave danger.

At the time, investigators believed Speight had been taken in a light-colored van with several unidentified men — details reportedly based on the teen’s own text messages to his family.

Surveillance Footage Raises Questions

Less than 24 hours later, surveillance footage showed the “missing” teen casually riding a bike near the site of the alleged abduction, casting doubt on his story. Investigators now say Speight staged the entire ordeal.

Caden Speight, Dunnellon, Florida teen faked own abduction at the hands of 4 Hispanic men.

“The initial details that Caden texted to his family were proven to be false, completely made up,” Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods said in a video statement Monday. “We then learned that he had purchased a bicycle, tent, and camping supplies just prior to him reporting this.”

Security footage confirmed Speight buying those items at a Walmart in Ocala just hours before the supposed kidnapping.

Self-Inflicted Gunshot Wound

Authorities believe Speight used a handgun he already had with him to shoot himself in the leg — causing a non-life-threatening injury — before emerging on a roadway in Williston, where citizens found him.

“To continue the ruse, Caden chose to shoot himself in the leg,” said Sheriff’s Office spokesman Zachary Moore. “There is zero chance that Caden’s gunshot wound came from any type of assailant.”

Speight 3 An amber alert was issued for the teen after he vanished last Thursday — who lied about his situation

Parents Refuse Cooperation

Sheriff Woods added that Speight’s parents have refused to allow detectives to interview their son, complicating efforts to reach a final conclusion about his motives.

Criminal charges are still being considered, and investigators are reviewing the costs of the massive search effort with the possibility of seeking reimbursement.

Why Stage a Hoax?

What remains unclear is why the teen staged such an elaborate deception — one that mobilized law enforcement resources, alarmed his community, and spread fear across the state.

“This was not just a prank,” Sheriff Woods stressed. “This wasted critical resources and put lives at risk.”

As of now, authorities continue to investigate while the community waits for answers about what led a 17-year-old to orchestrate such a dangerous hoax.

Caden Speight pictured with bicycle he bought hours prior to alleged abduction.