Luther student accused of terroristic references to anime series pleads not guilty

By Seth Boyes,

Wednesday, December 4, 2024 4:30 pm

Peter Lincoln Bumba

A Luther College student accused of making what law enforcement called threatening references to a violent anime series last month has pleaded not guilty to the charge of making terrorist threats.

Court documents said 20-year-old Peter Lincoln Bumba of Frankfort, Illinois, admitted to posting the messages to an Instagram account, suggesting Bumba ‘kill 80 percent of the students at Luther” — Bumba told law enforcement he was frustrated after not being selected for a position with one of the college’s plays, according to a subsequent criminal complaint. The Decorah Police Department noted the messages were references to the popular anime series “Attack on Titan,” in which a character “kills 80 percent of humanity.”

The Decorah Police Department was notified of the posts shortly after 1:30 a.m. Monday, Nov. 25. Luther College’s own security informed officers they had received multiple complaints concerning Bumba’s Instagram posts, and security personnel were able to show screen shots of at least three posts to law enforcement. 

Bumba was booked into the Winneshiek County Jail at 3:05 a.m. the same day and was released on bond that afternoon. Bumba’s defense attorney entered a plea of not guilty on behalf of the 20-year-old as part of a Nov. 26 filing. 

Making terrorist threats is considered a Class D felony, according to court documents. A preliminary court hearing has been scheduled for Dec. 16.

Full article available in the December 5 Decorah Leader.

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