Denton Ryan Football Coach’s Suicide Linked to Online Harassment Campaign

DENTON, TX — In 2022, local businesswoman Evan Berryhill became the target of an online harassment campaign spearheaded by TikTok and Instagram influencer Danesh Norshirvan, also known as “ThatDaneshGuy.” Norshirvan’s actions aimed to tarnish Berryhill’s reputation and undermine her financially. At the time, Berryhill, a single woman business owner, operated a successful women’s clothing boutique. The campaign began after a video surfaced showing Berryhill in a heated argument in her apartment's dark parking lot as she was confronted by two men, during which she used a homophobic slur against two men. Following the video's viral spread, Berryhill received thousands of hateful messages, including threats of violence — including threats to rape her — and encouragement to take her own life.

Berryhill was charged with a hate crime by Tom Green County Attorney Chris Taylor, marking the first time in county history a rarely used Texas law elevated a Class C misdemeanor to a Class B assault charge due to the victims’ sexual orientation. The charges were later dropped.

Now, nearly two years later, Norshirvan is at the center of another controversy in Texas. His latest viral video series targeted Aaron De La Torre, the defensive coordinator for Denton Ryan High School’s football team. De La Torre died by suicide on October 8, 2024, just 10 days after Norshirvan's first of many videos shaming him were posted.

Norshirvan accused De La Torre of assaulting a 12-year-old boy at a RaceTrac convenience store in Denton. The accusation was based on a video filmed by a bystander, which did not capture the alleged assault. In the video, the woman claimed that De La Torre had placed the boy in a headlock, struck him, and taken his phone. According to De La Torre, the confrontation stemmed from the boy throwing a stuffed animal that hit his wife.

Police investigations revealed conflicting witness accounts, additional surveillance footage, and a lack of evidence to support criminal charges. The boy’s parents also declined to file a complaint. Despite this, Norshirvan’s social media campaign against De La Torre intensified, with claims of a school district cover-up and allegations of prior misconduct by the coach.

Following Norshirvan’s viral accusations, De La Torre faced an onslaught of online harassment, echoing the campaign against Berryhill. Norshirvan’s followers, known as “Danelanders,” bombarded De La Torre, the police, and the Denton Independent School District with demands for his arrest and termination. However, the school district upheld its decision not to fire De La Torre, citing the lack of evidence from the police investigation.

The sustained harassment reportedly took a heavy toll on De La Torre. Friends and family described him as a beloved husband, devoted father, and respected coach. A Facebook post by WFAA post announcing his death received over 500 comments, many sharing stories of his positive impact on their lives. His GoFundMe raised over $45,000 for his family, an amount that is unusual following a suicide. 

De La Torre, 49, was a former football player for Stephen F. Austin University and briefly played in the NFL before transitioning to coaching. He and his wife, Lori, celebrated 25 years of marriage earlier this year and shared four children and two grandchildren.

This tragic incident has reignited debates over the consequences of online vigilantism and the accountability of influencers who leverage their platforms to launch harassment campaigns. Critics — and victims — have called for greater scrutiny of Norshirvan’s actions and called for social media platforms to be held accountable.