1 week Ago By tbs
., the man wrongly identified as the gunman in the 2024 Super Bowl parade shooting, has died at the age of 49. The tragedy of his final year has proven to be a stark reminder of how internet misinformation can permanently derail innocent lives.
, a disabled father of four and former Kansas corrections officer, was publicly and falsely labeled as a suspect in the February 14, 2024, mass shooting that killed one and injured 22 others. Though he was never charged, his photo and name were widely circulated across social media platforms within hours of the shooting - largely fueled by a viral conspiracy theory on X (formerly Twitter). Despite police quickly clearing him of any involvement, the damage was irreversible.
Loudermill was fired from his job as a government contractor within days of the online storm. He endured threats, harassment, and relentless online abuse. "It cost me everything," Loudermill told The Kansas City Star last year, as he struggled with unemployment, declining health, and emotional trauma.
Fallout from a digital witch hunt The Kansas City Police Department publicly confirmed on February 16, 2024, that Loudermill had no connection to the shooting. Still, his name continued to circulate, driven by users who refused to accept the truth. The actual suspects, two teenagers, were later arrested and charged.
Loudermill spent his final months battling depression and serious health problems. He died on April 10, 2025, in . His family believes the stress and trauma following the false accusations contributed significantly to his death.
His story has reignited calls for stronger accountability on social media platforms and more robust protections for individuals falsely implicated in criminal investigations online. "Denton didn't deserve this," his sister told the New York Post. "He was a good man who got caught in something he had nothing to do with.
And it destroyed him.".
