Police Slam ‘Reckless’ AI Suspect Post Amid Funez Murder Investigation

As police continue to investigate the murder of Funez, they’re now turning their attention to misinformation online. The department is warning a social media news blog that shared an AI-generated image of a supposed suspect. ASP Stacy Smith calls the move reckless, stressing it could put an innocent person at risk, especially since police say the real suspect looks nothing like the man in the image.

 

ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer

“I wish to address a very concerning occurrence I noted on social media by one of these I don’t know what you refer to them, news blog, which would have shared an enhanced AI photo of the assumed suspect in this incident. Firstly, it is important to note that conducting yourself as such serves to detract the investigative process. The photo displayed looked entirely different from the person who is in custody, both in feature and age. The danger this creates is that there may just be a man in Belize City that looks like that person who have broadcasted on social media and that person may be targeted, because it is a heinous offense committed. I would like to appeal to those members of the media, whether the regulated or unregulated or those persons who have taken on the task to be informers or persons who inform the public to be ethical in your undertaking because you certainly put lives at risk and detract from the process of investigation.”

 

Investigators plan to hold a follow-up press conference on Monday to share updates with the public on their findings.

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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