The founder of a high-end backpack company has been bombarded with vicious online abuse and death threats after giving police a tip about murder suspect Luigi Mangione.
Peter Dering, CEO of Peak Design, said he and his employees have been the target of terrifying messages after he contacted authorities to recognize his company’s bag in surveillance footage of the fatal shooting of the UnitedHealthcare CEO, Brian Thompson.
Online trolls branded him a “snitch,” some even calling for his execution and the downfall of his company after he admitted in a Dec. 5 report. New York Times article that he contacted police immediately after seeing his product in images of the alleged shooter.
The bag, found full of Monopoly money in Central Park, was linked to Mangione, the suspect in Thompson’s murder.
Shocking online messages revealed the extent of the vitriol directed at Dering.
One X user warned: “All CEOs are equal and deserve the same fate as Brian Thompson.”
Another made a creepy joke about a ‘Closing Sale Event Coming Soon’ for your business.
‘Don’t buy @peakdesignltd, their CEO @dering_peter is a rat. #FreeLuigi’, another one user he intervened.
Peter Dering, CEO of Peak Design, said he and his employees have been the subject of terrifying messages after he contacted authorities to recognize his company’s bag in surveillance footage of the fatal shooting of the UnitedHealthcare CEO, Brian Thompson.
Online trolls branded him a ‘snitch,’ some even calling for his execution and the downfall of his company after he admitted in a December 5 New York Times article that he contacted police immediately after seeing their product on images of the alleged shooter.
The company’s social media pages were also flooded with threatening comments.
They’ve messed with the wrong people. Enjoy what is left of your company,” one wrote in a comment on Instagram.
Dering issued a statement addressing the threats, after telling the Times that if police asked him for help, the CEO’Consult with your general counsel what information you could disclose without violating the company’s privacy guidelines.
In his statement, he emphasized the company’s commitment to customer privacy and insisted that customer information would only be provided under subpoena.
“We take our customers’ privacy seriously,” he wrote.
‘Misinformation is being shared on social media that has triggered many serious safety threats not only for myself but also for our employees.
“I ask that you consider the facts we provide here and continue to instill confidence in the Peak.”
That hasn’t stopped social media users from ganging up on the company and its CEO.
The bag, found full of Monopoly money in Central Park, was linked to Mangione, the suspect in Brian Thompson’s murder.
The company issued a statement addressing the situation.
“Peak Design CEO Peter Dering simply ruined his company – from calling the NYPD tip line to the statement he issued,” one user he commented.
‘Imagine wanting to get involved in something you don’t need to. Now people are unpacking their bags and canceling orders. The drop in the fourth quarter.’