After a couple of false claims, child at center of racist video now identified, says Rochester NAACP

After a pair of false leads, the Rochester chapter of the NAACP says it now believes police have correctly identified the family of a child who was shouted at with racist slurs at a local park.

The organization said Monday that three separate families came forward claiming to be involved after a crowdfunding campaign raised more than $340,000 in support of the child. The first two families, however, were discredited after another family reached out to police following a community town hall hosted by the NAACP last week.

The NAACP said no funds have been dispersed to any of the families as the Rochester Police Department continues its investigation. The incident, which shows a woman repeating racial epithets at a child believed to be as young as 5 and autistic, has gone viral in recent weeks, leading to widespread condemnation among local leaders.

“All funds collected will be placed in a trust dedicated to supporting the needs of the child,” the Rochester NAACP said in a statement. “This trust will be established in coordination with appropriate legal representatives to ensure transparency, integrity and long-term support for the child and their family.”

Efforts to identify the family of the boy in the video began when an individual claiming to represent the family went to the NAACP asking for a direct check from the organization. But after a second family came forward, this time filing a police report, communication with the first individual was discontinued, the organization said.

The situation grew only more complicated, however, when a third family approached the NAACP following the town hall on May 7. The NAACP said it advised the family to immediately contact local police.

“New evidence from the City of Rochester Police Department this past weekend revealed that the second family, again, was not the correct victimized family,” the Rochester NAACP wrote. Local police, the group added, have since “confirmed with 100% confidence that the third family is the correct family.”

None of the families have been publicly identified. NAACP officials said during the town hall there was misinformation about the incident as scammers attempted to pose as the Black child’s family to raise money for themselves.

At the same time, the NAACP honored the second family’s request for privacy over concerns for their safety amid online threats.

Rochester NAACP President Wale Elegbede read a statement from the second family at the May 7 town hall, saying they had faced threats online and were focusing on trying to help their child heal. They also called on authorities to charge Hendrix for her actions at the park.

“We demand that those responsible for this tragic event, the unimaginable pain that has affected our beloved child to be held fully accountable,” the second family wrote.

Rochester police did not immediately respond to specific questions about the investigation, only commenting that the department has “obtained new information that conflicts with original statements regarding this incident.”

“Through continued, thorough investigation, RPD gathered additional statements and evidence related to the identities and interactions of those involved,” department spokesperson Amanda Grayson said.

A separate GoFundMe set up by the second family claiming to be associated with the child has since been paused by the platform at the request of the Rochester NAACP. The group said it is now working to redirect funds donated to the correct family.

Meanwhile, local prosecutors are reviewing whether to bring charges against Shiloh Hendrix, the woman who allegedly shouted the racial slurs recorded in the video. No timetable has been set for a decision.

Hendrix has started a crowdfunding campaign of her own, claiming she and her family have been put in a “dire situation” in the aftermath of the video. Her campaign has raised more than $770,000.

She shared in an update Friday her family has started to receive the money. Hendrix also wrote she and her family continue to receive online threats, but they are on the move.

Hendrix thanked her supporters as well as the support team at Christian crowdfunding site GiveSendGo for their help navigating the fundraiser. She appeared to double down on her actions in the update.

“Amazing things can happen when like minded individuals work together,” she wrote. “We have proven just how powerful and great we are! Keep standing up for what is right!”