MINNEAPOLIS — The motorist who drove through a crowd of protesters this week, striking and injuring a teenage girl, is now being referred to as a suspect in the incident instead of a victim.

The 40-year-old St. Paul man has not been arrested or charged, as police continue to investigate.

Police said Wednesday that the man was “attempting to flee from a mob” when he drove into a crowd of people protesting the grand jury decision not to indict a police officer in the fatal shooting of an unarmed black 18-year-old in Ferguson, Mo.

Police initially referred to the driver as a “victim,” said his vehicle was damaged by a large group of people.

“While (the driver) was attempting to flee from the mob, he struck a pedestrian,” the police report said.

But later Wednesday, police referred to the man as a “suspect.” Police did not elaborate in their news release.

The 16-year-old girl who was hit sustained minor injuries, according to police.