Household fights for Chiefs fan wrongly accused in parade taking pictures

OLATHE, Kansas — “Is the whole lot OK?” Denton Loudermill Jr. texted his legal professional the morning of April 10. Loudermill would verify in like that when the load of the whole lot obtained too heavy. However LaRonna Lassiter Saunders was on the highway and knew she must carve out a while for him. She'd name him later.

For Lassiter Saunders, generally it felt as if she was extra like Loudermill's therapist than his legal professional. She knew he was simply making an attempt to navigate a life that had been upended on the afternoon of Feb. 14, 2024 — the day of the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs' Tremendous Bowl LVIII victory parade and rally.

Loudermill, a 49-year-old father of three, was so enthusiastic about his group's back-to-back titles that he had donned a purple hoodie and matching sweatpants for the occasion. Then, in an space close to the place Loudermill occurred to be celebrating, an argument broke out that led to gunfire. An area radio host, Lisa Lopez-Galvan, was killed and 22 folks have been injured within the Chiefs' Tremendous Bowl parade taking pictures. Police briefly detained Loudermill within the chaos that adopted close to Union Station, and onlookers snapped images of him handcuffed and seated on a curb.

In a matter of moments, his life was thrown into the social media wooden chipper. A picture appeared on-line and caught the eye of news-seekers, and ultimately politicians, who within the hours after the taking pictures labeled him as the whole lot from the gunman to an “unlawful” immigrant.

The truth that police launched Loudermill a short while later didn't make the social media rounds, however the photograph of him in handcuffs did. And the person who was outgoing and social, who always struck up conversations with strangers, grew to become a pariah — falsely accused of being the shooter.

Searches of “Chiefs parade shooter” on X revealed numerous images of Loudermill's detainment. On the time of this publication, a New York Metropolis tabloid social media account nonetheless has an image of him in handcuffs and flanked by law enforcement officials.

Loudermill tried to return to his on a regular basis life however couldn't escape the glare.

“‘They obtained my face all around the information,'” Lassiter Saunders recalled Loudermill telling her shortly after the taking pictures. “‘I am only a light-skinned brother that was making an attempt to get pleasure from my Chiefs.'”

She figured the easiest way to fight the misinformation was to set the file straight in each attainable venue, and inside days of the taking pictures, they appeared on CNN, “Inside Version” and the native TV stations in Kansas Metropolis. It did not appear to assist.

Loudermill grew to become withdrawn and paranoid, and ultimately he was identified with post-traumatic stress.

“He thought folks have been following him,” stated one in every of his sisters, Reba Paul.

He wished an apology, and when he did not get it, he sought justice within the type of lawsuits. He clung to these calls and conferences with Lassiter Saunders, ready for one thing or somebody to clear his identify. She reminded him this stuff take time.

On the morning of April 11, Lassiter Saunders was about to name Loudermill again to replace him on what was taking place. Largely, she wished to reassure him. However earlier than she may dial, his sister rang in. She advised Lassiter Saunders that Loudermill had been discovered lifeless. Paul had simply been to his home and noticed him mendacity on the lounge ground close to the sofa.

The post-mortem would take months, however throughout that point, his siblings remained resolved to face up for his or her brother and to do what they may to clear his identify. The final 12 months of Loudermill's life is a narrative of how shortly misinformation can unfold — and the way slowly, if ever, the reality breaks by means of.

By way of all of it, his household stays satisfied of 1 factor: They misplaced Denton Loudermill Jr. the day of that parade.

ABOUT 1 MILLION folks gathered on Valentine's Day 2024 to enjoy Kansas Metropolis's second straight Tremendous Bowl championship, and for Loudermill, the day was alleged to be cathartic. It was the one-year anniversary of the dying of his father, Denton Sr., who was additionally an avid Chiefs fan. It had been a tough 12 months and a half for the household — Loudermill's mom died in September 2022 — and his siblings stated he usually talked about how a lot he missed her.

He rode to downtown Kansas Metropolis that Wednesday morning together with his brother, Quincy, and one other sister, Stephanie Fairweather. That they had walked a protracted distance to get to their spot, and after taking within the festivities for about an hour, Fairweather figured that was sufficient. She was drained, and he or she advised Loudermill she was leaving with Quincy. However the parade wasn't over, and Loudermill wished to remain.

“Don't fret about me,” he advised her. “I will be all proper. I constructed these streets.”

Loudermill was having enjoyable with one million new buddies, ingesting and socializing with nearly anyone. This was regular for him, Fairweather stated. “All people loves him. He likes to speak and play with everybody.”

Shortly after 11 a.m., the open-top double-decker buses loaded with Chiefs gamers rolled by means of the 2-mile parade route lined by followers, a few of whom had camped out the evening earlier than. Individuals climbed timber and avenue poles or stood on rooftops for higher views. Kansas Metropolis Public Colleges canceled lessons for the event.

Following the parade, followers assembled outdoors Union Station for a rally that kicked off simply earlier than 1 p.m. Gamers gave victory speeches, and tight finish Travis Kelce sang Garth Brooks' “Mates in Low Locations.”

At 1:48 p.m., the rally ended with a last burst of confetti. Lower than a minute later, police stated, the sound of gunfire was heard on the west aspect of the stage close to Union Station — which was the location of the 2023 NFL draft. In line with courtroom paperwork, the gunfire erupted after one group confronted one other for looking at them. Native radio host Lisa Lopez-Galvan was killed and 22 folks ages 8 to 47 have been injured, police stated.

Jackson County prosecutors stated three males have been arrested in reference to the taking pictures: Lyndell Mays, Dominic Miller and Terry Younger. All three face prices of felony homicide and two counts of armed legal motion. Mays can be charged with illegal use of a weapon and inflicting a disaster, whereas Miller faces a further cost of illegal use of a firearm. Younger can be charged with illegal use of a weapon.

Within the moments after the taking pictures, Loudermill known as his sister to inform her what occurred. He advised Paul he thought a toddler was shot.

Paul advised ESPN that her brother was “somewhat intoxicated, identical to all people else was down there,” however not slurring or “speaking loopy.” She heard police within the background telling him to maneuver, so she advised him to “simply get out of the way in which” earlier than his cellphone went lifeless.

She tried calling him again and assumed he'd return the decision, even joking to herself, “He'll name me from jail.”

Police stated that as officers tried to clear the world, assist the injured and get emergency crews by means of, they briefly detained Loudermill and handcuffed him to stop interference. No legal prices have been filed, and he wasn't arrested — however the photograph of him sitting on the curb, in handcuffs, was sufficient for a narrative to all of a sudden play out on the general public stage.

“He simply thought folks have been taking photos, you recognize, as a result of there was a taking pictures,” Lassiter Saunders stated.

As information of the violence broke nationally, social media posts homed in on Loudermill. On X, the account of U.S. Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., posted a photograph of Loudermill in handcuffs. “One of many Kansas Metropolis Chiefs victory parade shooters has been recognized as an unlawful Alien,” it stated. The accounts of Missouri state senators Rick Brattin and Denny Hoskins, now Missouri's secretary of state, reposted on X a photograph of Loudermill with textual content that recognized him as 44-year-old Sahil Omar, an “unlawful immigrant.” Each state senators' accounts shared a put up by @DeepTruthIntel, a deal with that not exists. Each accounts tagged then-President Joe Biden and implied that his open-border insurance policies contributed to the crime.

Loudermill was born and raised in Olathe, Kansas.

A number of media retailers have reported that the identify Sahil Omar is faux and that the outline beforehand has been used on social media with equally false claims about different violent acts.

The put up on Burchett's web page has since been deleted, and ultimately the account posted that he misidentified Loudermill as being an “unlawful alien” however did not retract the assertion about him being one of many shooters.

By midafternoon the day of the parade, Loudermill's world — and his sister's cellphone — have been blowing up. The calls began about quarter-hour after her dialog along with her brother dropped. By then the images have been circulating throughout social media, with household and buddies doing double takes and sharing the identical response.

“Each single person who I heard from [said], ‘Oh, I do know this isn't true,'” Paul stated. “He would by no means do something like that.”

AFTER AUTHORITIES RELEASED Loudermill, he walked to a Wendy's to attempt to discover a experience again to his residence half-hour away in Kansas. He observed folks taking a look at him, then down at their telephones. When Fairweather arrived to choose him up, officers have been questioning him once more. “We simply went by means of this,” he advised them, after which they let him go.

Kansas Metropolis police stated the division acquired a name for service a few “suspicious particular person,” however responding officers decided at Wendy's {that a} report was not wanted.

His daughters had been on the parade, too, and went to a unique restaurant. They have been reeling from a name they'd acquired from their dad in regards to the taking pictures, his oldest daughter, Raven, 24, stated, “after which the subsequent factor you recognize it is all around the TVs.” Raven's fears started to snowball. She labored at a college; she was a task mannequin for youngsters; and everybody within the small city during which she lived knew her and her final identify.

“I used to be very fearful that it might have an effect on my character, the place I used to be from and the folks I am surrounded by,” she stated. “I did not need them to view me otherwise and be like, ‘Oh, she was raised by him. Was he the one which did it?'

“I instantly knew my dad would by no means do this, however different folks that do not know him do not know that.”

His youngsters described him as a “large outdated teddy bear” who, earlier than the parade, was at all times smiling, happy-go-lucky and energetic. He'd take them to Fairview Park, a leisure house close to the railroad tracks the place he had frolicked since he was younger, and play basketball and have cookouts. They'd go to the zoo and Disney on Ice and eat gasoline station pizza.

Loudermill beloved the Chiefs, sports activities and making folks snigger. The road he used the day of the parade — “I constructed these streets” — was one in every of his widespread sayings. It meant that he'd be high-quality, that he'd get residence, whether or not it was taking the bus or catching a experience from somebody.

His mother nicknamed him “Y-A” after Corridor of Fame quarterback Y.A. Tittle, and the identify caught together with his siblings. Loudermill valued his time with household and buddies.

“He beloved his folks deeply,” daughter Raven Loudermill stated.

His personal social media life primarily consisted of Fb interactions. He posted images of his household and sometimes despatched his siblings dance movies or memes he thought have been humorous. Paul stated most of these completely happy Fb Messenger exchanges stopped after the parade taking pictures.

His household stated Loudermill lived a easy life. He labored at a automobile wash and sometimes may very well be seen using his bike round city. He had a historical past of authorized troubles. In 2016 and 2017, he was booked by the Johnson County Sheriff's Division on prices together with housebreaking of motor autos, misdemeanor theft and felony interference with regulation enforcement. He additionally had a number of DUI-related incidents, together with a 2020 arrest for driving underneath the affect and driving with a suspended license. In 2021, he was booked once more for a court-ordered dedication associated to that DUI case.

“Nobody stated Denton was an angel or did not have a previous,” Lassiter Saunders stated. “However no person knew Denton — these [politicians] didn't know Denton. He did not have something to do with that taking pictures, and so no matter what his historical past was … it had no bearing on what they did and stated as a result of they did not know him from you or I.

“All of that is hindsight, nevertheless it did not matter as a result of they picked a random particular person, didn't verify their data and primarily ruined his life.”

THE MISSOURI FREEDOM CAUCUS is a part of the State Freedom Caucus Community, a gaggle of Republican state senators throughout the nation who intention to pull the party further to the right. It's described on its X account as being dedicated to “defending life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for Missourians.” The account on X shared the put up from @DeepTruthIntel with the photograph of Loudermill handcuffed on the parade, falsely claiming he was an unlawful immigrant. The X accounts of Hoskins and Brattin, each caucus members on the time, shortly shared the false declare. The caucus later deleted its put up and issued a retraction, acknowledging that Loudermill wasn't the shooter and saying it wished to clear his identify.

At a Feb. 22, 2024, information convention in Jefferson Metropolis, Missouri, a Kansas Metropolis Star reporter requested Brattin whether or not he had apologized to Loudermill. “There's nothing that I even see value that,” he advised reporters.

“We have performed nothing, and you recognize, I've no remark,” stated Brattin, who did not reply to messages from ESPN.

Two lawsuits filed within the U.S. District Courtroom for the Western District of Missouri towards Hoskins and Brattin alleged defamation and that Loudermill was falsely recognized as an “unlawful alien” and a “shooter” on the parade. They initially have been filed in Kansas however have since been refiled in Missouri for jurisdiction causes.

“They picked a random particular person, didn't verify their data and primarily ruined his life.”

LaRonna Lassiter Saunders

In line with the fits, the posts induced Loudermill reputational hurt, psychological misery and dying threats. The complaints sought a minimal of $75,000 every in damages, citing false gentle invasion of privateness and libel. The lawsuits claimed that the posts have been knowingly false, extensively shared and unrelated to public concern.

Loudermill additionally filed a defamation lawsuit in Kansas towards Missouri state Sen. Nick Schroer, which was dismissed. It wasn't refiled in Missouri as a result of, though Schroer's account reposted the Missouri Freedom Caucus put up, it was asking for clarification on the shooter's identification reasonably than pointing at Loudermill.

In response to an ESPN request for remark, a communications supervisor for Hoskins in his present position as Missouri's secretary of state stated the “matter would not pertain to the scope or duties of the Missouri secretary of state's workplace. As such, the workplace — nor Secretary Hoskins — can or will remark.”

Burchett's account had posted the identical photograph of Loudermill. After deleting the put up, the account shared a screenshot of the unique and wrote: “It has come to my consideration that in one in every of my earlier posts, one of many shooters was recognized as an unlawful alien. This was primarily based on a number of incorrect information studies stating that. I've eliminated the put up.” His correction didn't make clear that Loudermill wasn't concerned within the taking pictures.

The deadline to refile the go well with towards Burchett handed due to difficulties discovering a D.C.-based legal professional throughout the statute of limitations within the jurisdiction, Lassiter Saunders stated. However the lawsuits towards Brattin and Hoskins have been refiled. On Oct. 7, a Missouri decide denied requests by Brattin and Hoskins to have the respective fits towards them dismissed.

Burchett is thought for inflammatory remarks that develop into viral. Lower than two weeks after the parade taking pictures, a reporter for the Tennessee Holler, an audience-supported progressive information web site, asked Burchett on camera why he did not apologize to Loudermill, to which he responded: “Your mom advised me, allegedly, that you simply have been the second-biggest disappointment in her life.” In a separate trade, he mocked a reporter's query on nationwide safety by responding with a “your mom” joke, asking the reporter if he trusts his mom to make his Scorching Pockets and cost his Sport Boy each evening.

Loudermill thought it was necessary for Burchett to be held accountable due to his bigger platform and place as a member of Congress. Burchett's private X account at present has greater than 350,000 followers, and his congressional account has greater than 180,000.

“My brother wasn't political,” Fairweather stated. “He did not vote. He wasn't concerned in that, so it has nothing to do with politics or something aside from he was falsely accused.”

On a spring afternoon within the Rayburn Home Workplace Constructing in Washington, D.C., after a international affairs subcommittee listening to, an ESPN reporter approached Burchett to ask in regards to the put up. “Name my workplace,” he responded. His scheduler directed ESPN to the marketing campaign supervisor, who declined two requests for remark.

The photograph of Loudermill decked within the purple sweatsuit and handcuffs continued to stalk him. On the automobile wash the place he labored, his household stated, Loudermill would watch folks drive up, apparently acknowledge his face and search their telephones.

His legal professional stated some folks would sympathize; others would look scared or indignant at him. Lassiter Saunders stated he was coping with that “every single day, even up till the day he handed.”

In late March, she met Loudermill and his sister Reba Paul at a library in Olathe to offer them an replace on the case. Lassiter Saunders described Loudermill's final 14 months as an “emotional curler coaster.” He misplaced roughly 25 kilos after the parade taking pictures and went from despondent to hopeful to hopeless at occasions, because the lawsuits dragged on with no decision in sight. The dismissal of the Burchett case, alongside together with his viral quips on social media, have been intestine punches that sank her shopper right into a deeper abyss.

“So then he is considering, ‘These folks in energy, folks with cash, can do no matter they need and hurt whoever they need,'” she stated.

However on that day on the library in late March, Loudermill appeared all proper.

She reminded him that the wheels of justice are generally gradual however that he hadn't been forgotten. She advised him that they have been going to maintain preventing. They'd discover the whole lot attainable to clear his identify and make him entire.

It was their final assembly. A couple of weeks later, on the final full day of his life, Loudermill despatched the early-morning textual content: “Is the whole lot OK?”

THE MEDICAL EXAMINER'S report described a mean man: 49 years outdated, 191 kilos and simply over 5 ft, 10 inches. He was wearing black denims, a black belt and black sneakers and was carrying a black towel, a pair of cube, his driver's license, a debit card and a few free change.

He was reported to be intoxicated on the time of his dying and had been ingesting “in extra” the earlier two days.

In line with post-mortem and toxicology studies from the Johnson County health worker's workplace, Loudermill died unintentionally from cocaine, artificial marijuana and alcohol. Coronary heart illness and long-term alcohol use have been listed as contributing components.

The report stated Loudermill had a documented historical past of post-traumatic stress and melancholy however no indicators of suicidal intent. At post-mortem, early decomposition and contusions on his brow and arms additionally have been famous.

The truth that he had medication in his system shocked Paul. The presence of alcohol did not.

“We had been down this highway earlier than with the alcohol,” she stated, “they usually had given him remedy that made him not just like the style of alcohol, after which he stop. He ended up again ingesting once more, however then he had stated he wished assist.

“It was actually troubling for me as a result of I used to be like, he was actually making an attempt to flee. He is making an attempt to flee all of those emotions, you recognize, the lack of Mama, the lack of Daddy, after which these things and folks considering that he is — I imply, think about someone considering that you are a killer.”

Earlier this 12 months, Loudermill determined he was able to get assist for his psychological well being. He began to get counseling in March. Paul stated her brother was present process lab work to find out what drugs would work greatest.

On April 10, Paul picked him up from work. Her grandkids have been within the automobile, they usually went to McDonald's as a result of Loudermill wished ice cream. She's glad they'd that point collectively, bantering about how he obtained shorted on his ice cream.

For a 12 months, she had seemed for indicators of the outdated Denton and had tried to encourage him to depart his home and be extra social. His favourite rapper, Too Quick, was coming to a pageant in Kansas Metropolis in late June, and over the winter, she had requested him to go. He stated no. “Too many individuals,” he would say.

However on that day they went to McDonald's, he advised her he wished to go to the live performance. It shocked her and gave her hope that, after three weeks of remedy, possibly her outdated brother was coming again. He had an appointment together with his therapist scheduled for the next day — the day they discovered him lifeless.

Now, Paul's life is stuffed with questioning. If Denton had gotten assist a couple of months earlier, would it not have made a distinction? Would he be right here, his outdated self, using his bike across the neighborhood, stopping to speak to all people? Their grandfather is a pastor, she stated, and when she's misplaced in these questions, she tells herself that God would not make errors. She stated God known as her brother residence.

Loudermill's memorial service in Might was a barbecue at Fairview Park in Olathe together with his household and buddies. He would have turned 50 on June 8 and was alleged to have a celebration within the park together with his favorites — ribs, hamburgers, rooster, pork and no greens.

The household served that meals on the memorial and requested mourners to put on purple or “something Chiefs-themed to indicate your spirit and honor one of many greatest followers we have ever identified.”

Lassiter Saunders, wearing a long-sleeved purple shirt and matching pants, took within the scene because the trains rumbled by on a vibrant Saturday afternoon.

She'd been in frequent contact with members of the family since his dying however waited to ask in regards to the lawsuits towards the 2 Missouri senators. In the event that they wished to drop them, she stated, she understood. That was Denton's struggle.

They wished to press on, and in August, Loudermill's property was substituted for Denton's identify within the lawsuits, which have been filed in District Courtroom for the Western District of Missouri.

“We will not allow them to get away with this,” Paul advised her.

A couple of weeks later, the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs' season began with out one in every of their greatest followers from Olathe.

Paul, who owns a cookie store on the town, thinks about her brother each time she makes peanut butter cookies — Denton's favourite — or when a household birthday or milestone is well known in a muted kind. For years, the siblings and their households would collect at Paul's home on autumn Sundays to observe the Chiefs, with huge spreads of meals and card video games, and Loudermill's booming voice reverberating all through the home.

However now these gatherings are over. It is too exhausting, Paul stated, and an excessive amount of of a reminder of what they've misplaced. In late September, the Chiefs confronted the Baltimore Ravens — one in every of their greatest AFC rivals — on a Sunday evening. Paul and her husband, Mark, watched the Chiefs win in a quiet, empty room.

“He was greater than life, and he was actually in all places,” Paul stated. “So it is like his recollections are in all places.

“It is not the identical in any respect.”