Horrified: The community of Winnsboro, Louisiana is in shock after 20-year-old Sharmeka Moffitt was set on fire in an attack on Sunday night at a community park
Sharmeka Moffitt, who is black, claimed she was doused in lighter fluid and then severely burned by three men wearing white hooded sweatshirts while walking through a park on Sunday night. She also told police that the men wrote 'KKK' on her car.
However, police in Shreveport revealed on Tuesday that they found Ms Moffitt's DNA on the can of lighter fluid used to burn her and her fingerprints on the cigarette lighter that was used to start the fire.
Investigators also believe she was the one who wrote 'KKK' on her car.
It is not known why she self-immolated or reported that her injuries were the work of apparent white supremacists, police said.
Ms Moffitt remains in critical condition at the hospital, with burns on 60 percent of her body.
Her family issued a statement apologizing for the turn of events.
'Our family is devastated to learn the circumstances surrounding our daughter's injuries. While this was not the resolution we had expected, it's a resolution,' they said.
© The Associated Press'Untrue': Winnsboro Police Chief Lester Martin announced during a news conference at Franklin Parish Courthouse that Ms Moffitt had fabricated a story about being attacked and burned in a park by racists
She extinguished the fire using water from a spigot before a police officer arrived.
FBI began investigating the attack as a possible hate crime.
Authorities say Moffitt claimed she was attacked and burned by three men wearing white hoodies.
Though the attackers apparently wrote the letters 'KKK' on Moffitt's vehicle, police said she was unable to determine whether the men were black or white.
Local law enforcement officials, believing the report was genuine at the time, said they were shocked at the park.
Winnsboro Police Chief Lester Thomas said he was 'devastated' by the incident.
Franklin Parish Sheriff Kevin Cobb called it 'a horrific event.'
'We will follow the facts and seek justice,' he said.
The victim's family set up a Facebook page, Prayers for Sharmeka Moffitt and solicited prayers for the 20-year-old.
The incident quickly rose to national prominence, with major media outlets picking up the story.
Like the cops in Louisiana have never lied about what happened to a Black woman?