..

NEW ORLEANS (AP) One of the central figures in the 2007 Jena Six civil rights case never gave up pursuing his football career, even after his well-publicized run-ins with the law.�By Kevin McGill, Associated Press

Mychal Bell, an 18-year-old high school running back, clung to the hope that he could earn a college football scholarship. Then came another legal scrape this Christmas Eve.

After news broke of his arrest on a shoplifting charge, Bell shot himself in the chest Monday with a .22-caliber handgun. He remained hospitalized Tuesday but police said his chest wound was not life-threatening.

Police said Bells Christmas Eve arrest came after he allegedly tried to steal several shirts and a pair of jeans from a department store and fled when a security guard and off-duty police officer tried to detain him. After they found him hiding under a car, Bell swung his arms wildly and one of his elbows struck the security guard with a glancing blow, according to a police report. He was freed on $1,300 bond.

Scott said he believed the arrest likely resulted from a misunderstanding.

I would be very surprised if he was shoplifting, Scott said. I had seen him working out every day even though he knew he wasnt going to be able to play high school football.

Mondays shooting was reported at 7:40 p.m. According to the police report, Bell was staying at his grandmothers home and his mother was visiting at the time. Melissa Bell told police she and Simmons heard a gunshot coming from Mychals room. They found him on his bed, wounded in the chest. It was not clear Tuesday who owned the gun.