The Fort Worth Police Department removed the post but has not said whether the man is or is not connected to the crime.
FORT WORTH, Texas — LeAndra Polk saw several photos on social media — and recognized the face. It was her 18-year-old son, posted to the Fort Worth Police Department’s social media page. She said the post identified him as a suspect in a violent crime.
“The words were matter of fact: this is our person, this is who we’re looking for,” Polk said about the social media post.
According to police, a person was shot last week at a car wash in the 8300 block of North Beach Street. Investigators say the suspect was attempting to steal a vehicle when the shooting occurred. Authorities released a photograph of the person they were seeking in connection with the incident.
Polk says she immediately began making calls after seeing her son’s image in the post. She then contacted the officer directly.
“I immediately picked up the phone; I made a few phone calls and then I called the police officer. I said ‘hey, this is my son’s picture you posted. What do we need to do?'”
She brought her son to the police department, where he was interviewed by detectives. During that meeting, an officer showed her a photograph of a different individual — also described as a suspect — wearing similar clothing. Polk says she pointed out what she called clear discrepancies between the two images.
“I just pointed out several discrepancies – like, this is different, this is different – so why would y’all post my son’s picture if you hadn’t done any investigation?” she said.
Polk said her son was not arrested. The family left after the interview, and Polk maintains it was because her son was not involved in the crime.
When asked whether Polk’s son remained a suspect in the case, the police department declined to answer directly. However, the post containing his photograph was subsequently removed from the department’s social media page.
The department confirmed that a detective made contact with the person in the photograph. Officials indicated that a positive identification is typically the point at which a post would be taken down — though they would not confirm whether that person is or is not the suspect in the ongoing case.
By then, Polk said, the damage was already spreading online.
“Once you post something on social media – the internet, period – it’s always out there,” said Polk.
Her son had graduated high school the previous week. Since the post went live, she has not allowed him to leave the house.
“He could have been approached by police, he could have been approached by the victim who got shot or his family- retaliation, anything,” said Polk.
Polk is now calling on the department to make a public statement clearing her son’s name, arguing that the same platform used to accuse him should be used to exonerate him.
“They need to publicly come out and say he is not their suspect, and that he did not do this crime- just as they publicly put that he was the suspect,” she said.
Fort Worth Police Department — Official Statement
The Fort Worth Police Department is aware of inquiries regarding the identity of a person of interest in the photograph released in connection with the shooting at 8301 N. Beach Street.
The matter remains part of an active and ongoing investigation. To protect the integrity of the investigative process, the department is unable to comment further at this time.
The department reminds the public that any individual identified as a person of interest or potential suspect is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. Updates will be provided as information becomes available and is appropriate to share.