Denton Loudermill, a devoted Kansas City Chiefs fan, found himself thrust into a nightmare scenario after being falsely accused of involvement in the tragic shooting that marred the team's Super Bowl victory parade.
Despite being detained during the chaos, Loudermill vehemently denies any connection to the violence that unfolded.
Surrounded by police officers in now-infamous photographs, Loudermill became the target of social media speculation, with erroneous claims in news outlets circulating that he was one of the gunmen apprehended during the incident.
However, Loudermill, a father from Olathe, Kansas, insists he was simply enjoying the festivities like everyone else.
"I just want to clear my name that I had nothing to do with anything," Loudermill asserted during a press conference, per KSHB. "I was just enjoying myself like everybody else, but other than that, I was out there not to harm anybody. I was just enjoying the parade like everybody else."
His attorney, LaRonna Lassiter Saunders, echoed his sentiments, emphasizing that Loudermill's detainment was solely due to intoxication and failure to vacate the crime scene.
Despite consuming alcohol, Saunders stressed that Loudermill's actions did not warrant the false accusations leveled against him.
"Mr. Denton had several drinks, but so did a half-million other people, including some of the Chiefs players. It’s not a crime. It doesn’t make you a mass shooter," Saunders asserted, highlighting the dangers posed by the misinformation circulating online.
The tragic shooting claimed the life of local DJ Lisa Lopez-Galvan and left 22 others injured. While the investigation continues, Loudermill's attorney urges the public to refrain from spreading false information that could endanger his life.
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"Mr. Denton has received death threats over a lie, over misinformation. He didn’t do anything wrong. He did not commit a crime," Saunders emphasized, urging for the truth to be disseminated to clear Loudermill's name.
At the conference, Loudermill's attorney also paid tribute to Lopez-Galvan, saying: "We want to offer our condolences to Ms. Lopez-Galvan and her family, and to the other 22 victims and their families that were impacted by this horrible tragedy.
"They are living a true nightmare right now. The other person that would be living a nightmare would be Mr. Denton because he's the one accused of being the shooter at that event."
Meanwhile, two minors have been charged in connection with the shooting, and further charges are anticipated as the investigation progresses.
Our thoughts continue to go out to everybody impacted by this tragedy.