A US woman shot herself twice to cover up a fake robbery.

Joy Lounders initially told Tennessee police she had been attacked by a white male with grey hair while waiting for a flight, and that he had grabbed her handgun resulting in her being shot through the leg and back.

According to WATE-TV, Lounders eventually confessed while at the hospital that she had shot herself.

Despite her admittance, police investigators had already been scouring the city looking for a silver van and the alleged attacker for a few hours.

Prosecutors have not yet decided whether they are going to file charges, but initiating a false report with law enforcement could land Lounders with a sentence of between two and four years behind bars.