By Seth Boyes,
A student at Luther College has been charged with making terroristic threats and jailed early Monday after authorities received word of concerning messages posted to Instagram. Court documents said 20-year-old Peter Lincoln Bumba of Frankfort, Illinois, admitted to posting the messages, saying he was “frustrated with not getting a position in a play at the college.” Bumba was booked into the Winneshiek County Jail at 3:05 a.m. Monday. A statement from the Decorah Police Department said there is no ongoing threat to the community or Luther College.
“A subsequent search warrant was executed on Bumba’s room and vehicle,” the police said in a statement Monday morning. “No weapons were discovered during the search of the property.”
The Decorah Police Department was notified of the threatening messages shortly after 1:30 a.m. Monday. Luther College’s own security informed officers they had received multiple complaints of concerning Instagram posts created by Bumba — a criminal complaint indicated the actual offense took place at approximately 9:45 p.m. Sunday, and security personnel were able to show screen shots of at least three posts to law enforcement. The Decorah Police Department said in a statement Monday morning that Bumba’s posts made references to what they called a violent anime series in suggesting Bumba ‘kill 80 percent of the students at Luther” — the criminal complaint specified Bumba’s posts were referring to the series “Attack on Titan,” in which a character “kills 80 percent of humanity.”
The Decorah Police Department said Bumba confessed to posting the messages, one of which had been removed shortly after it was posted, according to the criminal complaint.
“When asked how these posts would make people feel, he understood it would cause concern, which is why he deleted it and rephrased it so only anime fans would get the reference and it would sound less harsh,” the complaint said.
Bumba faces a Class D felony. Luther College’s student handbook indicates Bumba may also be subject to additional disciplinary action from the college.
Court records show Bumba was released after posting bond Monday afternoon and is scheduled for an initial appearance on Dec. 16.
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