Support your local businesses

Stay informed, stay empowered: invest in the journalism that invests in you. DECORAH — A 20-year-old Illinois resident who drew concern from the Luther College community last fall for threatening social media posts has pleaded guilty to a reduced charge. Peter Lincoln Bumba, 20, appeared in Winneshiek County District Court on May 28 and entered a written guilty plea to one count of Harassment in the 2nd Degree – Threaten Bodily Injury, a serious misdemeanor under Iowa law. The plea comes months after he was originally charged with threats of terrorism, a Class D felony, related to an incident on November 25, 2024. According to court records, Bumba admitted to posting alarming messages on Instagram, including one that read, "What if I pulled an 'Eren Yeager' and killed 80% of Luther"—a reference to a violent character in the anime "Attack on Titan." The posts triggered alarm on campus, prompting Luther College Security to notify local law enforcement. Bumba later told investigators he was venting frustration over not being cast in a campus play and acknowledged the posts could be interpreted as threatening. He deleted and reworded them shortly after posting. The Winneshiek County Attorney formally filed charges in early January. At his January 14 arraignment, Bumba pleaded not guilty to the terrorism charge and waived his right to a speedy trial. Court records describe that, under Iowa law, a serious misdemeanor carries a maximum sentence of up to one year in jail and a fine of $430 to $2,560. In this week's hearing, Bumba voluntarily petitioned to enter a guilty plea to the lesser harassment charge. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled. Unlock a world of knowledge! Sign up for free DecorahNews.com newsletters and receive local news, local events and everything that is happening in and around Decorah.

Support your local businesses

Illinois Man to Plead Guilty to Harassment After Threatening Social Media Posts Targeting Luther College