A man from Olathe, Kansas, wrongfully accused of participating in a shooting at a public celebration for the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl victory last year, has passed away, according to his legal representative. Denton Loudermill Jr. faced detention briefly but was not formally charged after the tragic events, which unfolded in a bustling celebration. Following the incident, Loudermill pursued legal action by filing lawsuits against three Missouri state senators from the Republican party and a congressman from Tennessee, all of whom had shared misleading social media posts that wrongfully implicated him. These lawsuits, however, were dismissed primarily due to issues related to jurisdiction.
LaRonna Lassiter Saunders, the attorney representing Loudermill, confirmed his passing in a statement but did not disclose any specifics about the circumstances surrounding his death. Loudermill was 49 years old. Saunders requested privacy for the grieving family, noting, “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 shooting, which occurred on February 14, 2024, outside Union Station in Kansas City, Missouri, resulted in the death of a popular DJ and injured more than twenty others, including numerous children. According to the lawsuits filed by Loudermill, he froze amidst the chaos during the gunfire, remaining in the area long enough for police to set up crime scene tape around him. Upon attempting to leave the scene, Loudermill was detained by officers for moving too slowly; he was subsequently handcuffed and placed on a curb. People then began taking and sharing photographs of him on social media, which led to the false accusations.
Loudermill was eventually released and informed that he was free to go. Nonetheless, social media quickly circulated posts featuring Loudermill’s image, falsely labeling him as an “illegal alien” and a “shooter,” despite his lack of involvement. While three men were ultimately charged with murder, others faced different charges connected to a conflict between two groups that incited the violence.
Saunders has expressed her commitment to continuing the fight to clear Loudermill’s name. “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!” Saunders stressed.