Denton Loudermill Jr., a 49-year-old Kansas man, tragically passed away, his attorney confirmed on Friday. Loudermill’s death comes after he was wrongly accused of being involved in the shooting that marred the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl victory celebration in February 2024. The incident, which took place outside Union Station, resulted in the death of a well-known DJ and injuries to over 20 others, many of them children.
Following the chaos of the shooting, Loudermill was briefly handcuffed by police but never faced charges. However, false accusations spread rapidly on social media, fueled by posts from three Missouri state senators and a Tennessee congressman. These posts wrongly identified Loudermill as a shooter, labeling him an “illegal alien,” despite his US birth and citizenship. He subsequently filed lawsuits against those who shared the defamatory posts; however, these cases were later dismissed on jurisdictional grounds.
Loudermill’s attorney, LaRonna Lassiter Saunders, released a statement confirming his death but offered no details on the circumstances. She emphasized the family’s need for privacy during their time of grief, stating, “More details will be provided in time, but for now, we ask that you honor the family’s need for privacy as they come together to grieve this tremendous loss.”
The lawsuits detailed Loudermill’s experience during the shooting, stating he froze in place amidst the chaos. This caused him to be stopped by officers who perceived his slow movement as suspicious, leading to his brief detainment. The subsequent spread of false information on social media, based on a photograph taken during his detainment, severely impacted his life.
Three individuals were eventually charged with murder in connection with the shooting, which authorities determined stemmed from a dispute between two groups. Despite the charges against the actual perpetrators, Loudermill’s life was irrevocably altered by the false accusations.
Attorney Saunders affirmed her commitment to continue fighting to clear Loudermill’s name, stating, “While the family takes this time to mourn, we want to make it clear that this is not over. Mr. Loudermill should not have spent his final days burdened with stress and chasing down a lie that went viral due to the careless and heartless actions of a Congressman, Missouri senators, and social media influencers, who couldn’t be bothered to verify the truth before destroying a man’s life. If you thought we were determined before, you haven’t seen anything yet!” This tragic event underscores the devastating consequences of misinformation and the importance of responsible social media usage.
