Ohio Retail Manager Targeted by Online Lynch Mob After False Identification
A small-town store manager from Ohio is living in fear for his life after being falsely accused on social media of being the federal agent responsible for shooting Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. Evan Kilgore, a 32-year-old retail chain manager and amateur political commentator, woke on Sunday morning to discover his face plastered across multiple platforms alongside hundreds of death threats.
Vicious Social Media Campaign Based on Mistaken Identity
Thousands of posts across Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Threads incorrectly identified Kilgore as the Customs and Border Protection agent who shot Veterans Affairs nurse Pretti during a protest in Minneapolis last Saturday. The posts labelled him a murderer and Nazi while openly calling for his death. 'People were saying they were gonna hunt me down... they were going to find me, find my address, find my family,' Kilgore told the Daily Mail.
Police became so concerned for Kilgore and his family's safety that they stationed a squad car outside his parents' home as a protective measure. This response came despite Kilgore having never visited Minneapolis in his life and possessing no connection to law enforcement or government work.
Influencer's Viral Post Sparks Harassment Avalanche
The false identification originated from popular Atlantic City DJ and left-wing influencer Patrick Jeanty Jr, who posted a video to his combined one million followers claiming Kilgore was the shooter. 'This is the POS that unalived Alex Pretti in Minnesota! His name is Evan Kilgore,' Jeanty wrote alongside a photo of Kilgore.
Jeanty's post prompted immediate escalation, with social media users sending Kilgore alarming messages including: 'Got your address so better sleep with one eye open you f**king monster' and 'We are going to find you and take care of you murderer. You can run but you can't hide. Your days are numbered.'
Family Targeted and Police Involvement
The online mob quickly located Kilgore's parents' address, assuming it was his residence, and began sending threats to them as well. According to police reports, callers made ominous clicking sounds while reading out the home address to prove they knew the location. 'Evan expressed fear for his safety and the safety of his family,' the official report noted.
Kilgore has taken time off work due to stress while his parents consider temporarily relocating to Florida. 'It's just done an insane amount of damage to my reputation and has led me to have some legitimate fears for my safety,' he explained. 'Even last night I was seeing some posts somebody was calling for me to be beheaded.'
Controversial Background and Legal Action
While Kilgore admits to holding controversial right-wing views and supporting immigration crackdowns, he maintains this doesn't justify the harassment campaign. He was previously fired from Grace College & Seminary in 2017 alongside two colleagues for creating an insensitive fake rap album cover featuring stereotypical urban black clothing.
Despite eventually removing his original video, Jeanty refused to apologize, stating: 'Sorry not sorry, I don't feel bad for you. I hope whatever comes your way, comes your way. I don't care.' Kilgore plans to sue Jeanty for defamation and is cooperating with police who are investigating possible criminal charges. 'The police are taking it very seriously,' he confirmed.
This case highlights the dangerous consequences of online misinformation and the rapid escalation of digital harassment into real-world threats against innocent individuals mistakenly identified during emotionally charged events.
