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Family files suit after they say officers mistake teen for shooting suspect

STOCKBRIDGE, Ga. — A Henry County family is suing after police mistakenly identified their star athlete son as a suspect in a shooting. The lawsuit was filed in federal court alleging civil rights violations.

"To watch your family being brought out of your house at gun point," Anthony King told Channel 2's Rachel Stockman.

Police were searching for as suspect following a shooting that occurred at a Stockbridge home in April.

According to a police report, a witness told police, "I know who did it, it was Kieandre King. We call him Dre."

Shortly after, a dispatcher sent police to the Keisha and Anthony King's home on Fairview Way in Stockbridge to look for the suspect.

Their son's name, Keonte King, was similar to the suspect's name, Kieandre King. However, the suspect was 30 years old at the time, and Keonte King was just 18-years-old.

"When my 15-year-old got to the door, he didn't have his hands up, they proceeded to cock the gun," Keisha King said. Police searched the home for the 18-year-old, who was not home at the time.

An officer wrote in his report, "Anthony gave me permission to search the house."

"I never saw a warrant, nor did they ask," Anthony King said

The Kings said while police were searching the home, the family, including their 10-year-old son, was being held in their front lawn for about three hours.

"As he (Keonte King) proceeded to pull up, they surrounded the car, they had guns once again, placed him on the ground, put him in handcuffs," Anthony King said.

The two people who witnessed the shooting, later told police that Keonte King, was not the suspect, according to the police report.

"It was determined to be a mistake in identity and Keonte was released," the report said.

The King family believes it happened because the two names are so similar, but think police should have done more investigate work before charging into their home and handcuffing the wrong suspect.

The report also noted that the King family's vehicle was a similar color to the suspect's SUV, and an officer observed it was still hot.

The Kings say they haven't received an apology from the police department.

"Words, cannot describe, it was very, very traumatic," Anthony Kings said.

A spokesperson for Henry County police said they cannot comment because the lawsuit is ongoing litigation.

The real suspect, Kieandre King, 31, is currently booked into Henry County Jail on aggravated assault charges. He is being held with a $150,000 bond.