Man Lives in Fear After Online Mob Targets Him Wrongly
A 32-year-old store manager from a small Ohio town faces ongoing death threats after social media users falsely identified him as the federal agent involved in the fatal shooting of Veterans Affairs nurse Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.
Evan Kilgore woke up on Sunday to discover his name and photo circulating widely online, with thousands of posts on platforms like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Threads labeling him a murderer and calling for his death. Users threatened to hunt him down, locate his address, and harm his family.
“People were saying they were gonna hunt me down… they were going to find me, find my address, find my family,” Kilgore stated.
Local police expressed serious concern for Kilgore and his family’s safety, deploying a squad car outside his parents’ home to deter potential attacks. Kilgore has never visited Minneapolis and holds no position in law enforcement or government. He manages a small retail chain in Ohio and occasionally shares right-wing commentary on Twitter as an amateur.
Background on the Minneapolis Shooting
Alex Pretti, a Veterans Affairs nurse, died during a protest in Minneapolis last Saturday. Video footage captured from multiple angles shows agents dragging him to the ground and firing up to 10 shots while attempting to detain him. The incident sparked global outrage and prompted online efforts to identify the involved Customs and Border Protection agents, none of whom authorities have officially named.
“I’m just a normal guy, I have nothing to do with this,” Kilgore said, providing evidence that he was not in Minnesota on the day of the shooting.
How the False Identification Spread
The misinformation began when Atlantic City DJ and left-wing influencer Patrick Jeanty Jr., who has over one million followers, posted a video claiming Kilgore was the shooter. “This is the POS that unalived Alex Pretti in Minnesota! His name is Evan Kilgore,” Jeanty wrote alongside Kilgore’s photo.
Jeanty added, “I hope you are forever haunted by images of what you did to that man. I hope your family never finds peace. Now the whole internet knows who you are, gay. Better go into hiding like you boy Jonathan Ross.”
Ross, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent, recently shot and killed Renee Good, igniting nationwide protests against ICE. The false claim against Kilgore quickly escalated, with other social media users sharing his photo and demanding vigilante justice.
Escalating Threats and Police Involvement
Messages poured in, including one stating, “Got your address so better sleep with one eye open you f**king monster.” Another warned, “We are going to find you and take care of you murderer. You can run but you can’t hide. Your days are numbered.” Users also hoped threats against Kilgore would be acted upon and extended harm to his family.
The online harassment soon targeted Kilgore’s parents’ address, linked to him online. After receiving threatening calls, including one with ominous clicking sounds and the address recited back to them, Kilgore filed a police report.
The report noted, “Evan also stated he and his family have received multiple phone calls from private number, with callers claiming they know his address and stating they are coming to his residence. Evan expressed fear for his safety and the safety of his family.”
“My parents are talking about leaving for a couple of weeks down to maybe Florida or something, and I’ve taken a couple days off of work due to the stress,” Kilgore explained. “It’s just done an insane amount of damage to my reputation and has led me to have some legitimate fears for my safety. Even last night I was seeing some posts somebody was calling for me to be beheaded.”
Kilgore repeatedly posted on Twitter urging people to stop, emphasizing his Ohio residence. He barely slept, alerted his family, filed reports, and documented every threat.
Jeanty, previously convicted of child abuse in Ocean County, New Jersey, in 2016, removed the original video but posted a follow-up without apology. “Sorry not sorry, I don’t feel bad for you. I hope whatever comes your way, comes your way. I don’t care,” he said. “I don’t apologize to racist white men who actively want black and brown people to die.”
Kilgore’s Background and Response
Kilgore identifies as a Christian nationalist and supports the current immigration enforcement efforts, including in Minneapolis, though he has criticized Trump administration figures and opposes support for Israel. His views often lean controversial or fringe right-wing.
Prior to his Twitter activity, Kilgore faced backlash in 2017 when he and two colleagues were dismissed from Grace College & Seminary in Winona Lake, Indiana, for creating a fake rap album cover. The image featured stereotypical urban Black attire, an afro wig, and Kilgore flashing a mock gang sign with “Thug Life” on his knuckles. The acronym “NGA” on the photo stood for “Not Grace Appropriate,” an internal joke for anything deemed sinful.
Then-president Bill Katip described the photo as “insensitive and inappropriate,” noting it caused widespread criticism and hurt. “We must do more to help ensure people of all backgrounds are treated with respect and feel welcome,” Katip stated at the time.
Kilgore’s driver’s license confirms his Ohio residency, not Minnesota. He maintains his online opinions do not justify the harassment and plans to pursue defamation lawsuits against Jeanty and others who spread the false claims. Police are investigating Jeanty for potential criminal charges and treating the matter seriously.
