LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - A Little Rock car salesman says he received threats after being wrongly identified as a suspect arrested in connection to the fatal shooting of a 3-year-old child.
Greg Holmes told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (https://bit.ly/2pWMPSD ) he received threatening calls until March despite attempts to clear his name on social media.
“It was horrible,” Holmes said.
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In December, investigators in Little Rock arrested Gary Eugene Holmes, 33, in the toddler’s death. The child was shot in the backseat of a vehicle after a man in another vehicle allegedly got out and opened fire. Authorities described the incident as an act of road rage.
The U.S. Marshals Service incorrectly identified the suspect as “Greg Holmes” and didn’t provide a photo, age, race or address of the man.
In the absence of identifying information, Greg Holmes’ personal information was circulated on social media, linked with news reports of the child’s death.
After friends and colleagues of Holmes began receiving phone calls and messages inquiring about the allegations, he decided to go on Facebook Live to try and clear his name. Several of his friends also spoke out in his defense.
Mentions of Holmes’ name were deleted as the actual suspect’s name was shared online.
Deputy U.S. Marshal Kevin Sanders said the correct name appears on records. He doesn’t know how the mix-up occurred.
“Somewhere along the way,” Sanders said, “it just got relayed to us that his name was Greg.”
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Information from: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, https://www.arkansasonline.com
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