Mychal Bell Of 'Jena 6' Accidentally Shoots Himself!

Mychal Bell, one of the "Jena 6" whose case brought national attention to racial tensions in the small Louisiana town two years ago, accidentally shot himself in the shoulder Monday evening, according to CNN.

Bell was cleaning a gun and the firearm discharged unexpectedly, his lawyer said. He was rushed to a nearby hospital in Monroe, Louisiana, where he was treated.

Bell's lawyer, Carol Powell-Lexing, told CNN her client underwent surgery on Monday night. At press time Bell was unable to speak, CNN reported, but authorities said the injury was not life threatening. Bell has not been charged with any crime.

Monroe, Louisiana, police Sgt. Cassandra Wooten says the 18-year-old wounded himself around 7:40 p.m. in Monroe. He's been staying with a foster family there, reports The Associated Press.

Wooten believes Bell was upset over media coverage of his arrest last week on a shoplifting charge. Bell was arrested Christmas Eve and booked on a shoplifting charge, police said Monday, Dec. 29, 2008. He was freed on $1,300 bond following his arrest at a mall in Monroe, La. He also was booked on charges of resisting arrest and simple assault.

In 2006, Bell, along with five other African-American classmates, were facing felony assault charges after an incident in which he and several others beat a white student for allegedly using a racial epithet. The fight was prompted after a noose was discovered hanging from a tree on school grounds, a gesture which created outrage in the community. Three white Jena High students placed the noose in the tree, it was later learned; the shade of the tree was traditionally off-limits to blacks in the past.

Good to know Mychal Bell is doing okay and injury not life threatening.