Following the mass shooting in Kansas City that left one dead and 22 others injured, unfounded reports began circulating on social media, and were boosted by prominent elected officials, that the shooting was perpetrated by an undocumented immigrant.
One such post was made by state Sen Denny Hoskins, R-Warrensburg, who is running for Secretary of State.
Scott Charton, a political operative, posted a collection of screenshots in which the X accounts of state Sens. Hoskins, Nick Schroer and Rick Brattin – as well as the X account for their group, the Missouri Freedom Caucus – made similar false claims that the KC shooting was tied to illegal immigration.
The photos in posts that were shared by Missouri Freedom Caucus members showed the arrest of Denton Loudermill, a native of Olathe, Kansas, who had been detained by police for public intoxication and for failing to leave the crime scene.
If I was him, I’d be getting a lawyer right quick!
“At least one of those arrested is an illegal immigrant,” the account for the Missouri Freedom Caucus posted. “Close our borders!”
The caucus’ account later deleted that post.
Congressman Tim Burchett, R-TN, was one of the first to falsely claim Loudermill was “one of the Kansas City Chiefs victory parade shooters” and an “illegal alien.”
As of this article’s publication, his post on X was still active.
I hope one of those “patriots” doesn’t shoot that guy. After all, there are absolutely no gun restrictions allowed in Mizzooruh.
Arthur’s post had highlighted Missouri’s lenient gun laws which prohibit local municipalities like Kansas City and St. Louis from imposing their own restrictions.