A Metro East man's terrifying story of a knife-wielding stranger was compelling enough to bring a swarm of police to his neighborhood — but it was a lie, authorities say.Mahmoud Massoud, 34, of the Illinois municipality of Highland, called 911 around 10 a.m. on Tuesday to report he had been attacked at home by a bald white man, police say. He claimed he fired two shots at his assailant before running outside to safety.
Neighbors, who had heard the shots, also called 911.…