Man questioned in SAPD officers' slaying says he's victim of a digital witch hunt

Lorenzo Calvin proclaims innocence, suspect arrested Monday

SAN ANTONIO – He claims he has nothing to do with the murder of SAPD Detective Benjamin Marconi. But even so, a San Antonio man said he spent several hours inside SAPD headquarters Sunday night being interrogated by investigators.

Lorenzo Calvin, 21, was trying to clear his name Monday after several social media posts and tips to police named him as a possible suspect in Marconi's murder.

Monday afternoon, police arrested Otis McKane in connection with Marconi's death.

Related: Suspect in police detective's killing arrested

Marconi was shot and killed in his patrol car while writing a traffic ticket Sunday morning in front of the city's Public Safety Headquarters.

Calvin said he's the victim of a digital witch hunt.

"It was hectic, I've never been in this situation in my life," Calvin said, recalling the interrogation. "I'm 100 percent innocent and they treated me like I really did it."

Calvin said he can't figure out how he found himself at the center of an investigation into the assassination of a police officer but believed it has to do with people on Facebook playing detective.

"People were sending me things on Facebook, death threats, and saying 'You're a cop killer.' You know, things like that," Calvin said. "I worked all day yesterday so it's crazy that I got off at 7 p.m. and one hour after I got off I had  guns at my head."

Calvin said he was headed to the Converse police department to try to clear his name Sunday night when he was surrounded by task force members looking for Marconi's killer.

He said his home was raided, family members placed in handcuffs and then taken downtown where he was questioned for hours.

Calvin said he was finally let go when he passed a polygraph test, provided a DNA sample, and had his hands tested for gunpowder residue.

Even then, he said, he was told he wasn't in the clear.

"Before I walked out, the FBI agent told me that just because I'm clear right now you're still a potential suspect and she told me not to go back to Houston where I'm from," Calvin said.

While Calvin appears to resemble the suspected gunman seen in surveillance video released by SAPD and he has posted several pictures of himself with guns on his Facebook page, he said that doesn't make him guilty.

"I think they think black people, they all look alike or if you post a picture with a gun then you're a criminal," Calvin said. "I do feel bad that he was shot and killed and I am sorry that he was killed but you got the wrong guy and like I told them they're wasting their time with me."

Police would not confirm if Calvin was interrogated or if he's considered a suspect.

Sgt. Jesse Salame would only say they never named Calvin as a suspect or person of interest in the case and that they are still sorting through it.

Monday afternoon a source close to the investigation who was not authorized to discuss the case publicly confirmed Calvin had been cleared as a suspect and had no involvement in the killing.

Meanwhile, Calvin said, police still have his phone and his car which doesn't even match the suspect vehicle put out by police.

He also claimed some officers roughed him up during the interrogation and that he's now seeking an attorney to deal with that.