A man in a small Ohio town says his life was put at risk after he was falsely accused online of killing Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.
Evan Kilgore woke up to hundreds of messages calling him a murderer. His photo was shared across social media, and strangers openly threatened to kill him. Some said they would find his home and target his family.
The accusations were false. Kilgore has never been to Minneapolis and does not work in law enforcement. He provided proof showing he was in another state when the shooting happened. Despite this, the claims continued to spread.
Police became so concerned that they placed protection outside his parents’ home after threats began reaching them directly. Kilgore reported receiving anonymous calls from people claiming they knew his address.
The situation caused severe stress. He took time off work, warned family members to stay alert, and began documenting threats for police.
Kilgore says the false claims ruined his reputation and left him fearing for his safety. He plans to sue those who spread the accusation. Police are also reviewing whether criminal charges are appropriate.
The case shows how quickly online misinformation can spiral — and how dangerous it can become when accusations spread without facts or verification.