He could have called him “Teenaged African American person who was taller than me, and who emerged from the darkness and attacked me”, but by the third time he wrote that he’d have gotten writer’s cramp. Anybody who ever watched a TV crime show or had any interaction with law enforcement would be aware of the use of “suspect”. It’s shorthand, used precisely to avoid the need for the jawbreaking recitation I cited above. In much the same way, BTW, as the state keeps using “victim” to described the deceased attacker.
The lawyers went PC and decided that “person of interest” and “suspect” are two different things.
People might say the word “suspect” when in reality there is a correct word for what they mean, and it’s “subject”. IF you say “the subject” did this or that, there’s no possible way to criticize, spin or misinterpret the meaning. The subject is who you are watching, or talking to or zeroed in on, for a reason. He’s the object of your attention. If he actually becomes a crime suspect, then that usage becomes proper.
People can SAY anything, but it could be an incorrect term for what they really mean.
Just sayin’...there is a correct term. For example, if you’re a security officer that enforces certain rules to secure a facility, you will have your eye out for people who might catch your attention as possible violating a security rule, but not at that point a suspect in any crime. And if you followed training procedure, you would CALL them a subject in verbal communications and ditto when you write up a report.