US | Mychal Bell 'Jena 6' Teen in Hospital After Shooting Self Bell couldn't take media attention following new arrest: family By Nick McMaster Posted Dec 30, 2008 2:33 PM CST Copied Mychal Bell, one of the "Jena Six," listens to speakers after leaving the LaSalle Parish Courthouse in Jena, La., Thursday, Sept. 27, 2007. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) Mychal Bell, one of the “Jena six” who were the focus of a racial controversy in 2006, survived a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest and is in a Louisiana hospital, the Monroe News Star reports. Bell shot himself after being arrested for shoplifting on Christmas Eve and said “that he shot himself because he was tired of all the media attention” after that arrest, police reports said. Bell was arrested less than one month after his release on charges stemming from the beating of a Jena High School classmate. His attempt to steal $370 worth of merchandise from a Dillard’s department store also landed him charges for battery and resisting arrest, police said. Read These Next Lily Allen's 'revenge dress' literally has the receipts. Giant tortoises can thank NASA for their return to Galapagos island. After 12-year-old boy's crash on e-motorcycle, his dad is charged. Two animals thought to have vanished 6K years ago are back. Report an error