The CEO of a luxury backpack company has come under fire after providing authorities with information regarding the shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
On December 4, Brian Johnson, aged 50, was shot and killed in New York City in what appears to be a premeditated attack.
Johnson was shot twice in the back and once in the leg as he exited the Hilton hotel in Midtown Manhattan, where UnitedHealthcare was hosting an investors’ meeting.
The bullets found at the scene had the words ‘delay,’ ‘depose,’ and ‘deny’ marked on them, which are believed to reference terms used by UnitedHealth when declining health insurance claims.
Luigi Mangione, 26, has been charged with Johnson’s murder and has entered a plea of not guilty.
Peter Dering, CEO of the backpack company Peak Design, has disclosed that he and his team have received threats following reports that he contacted a police tip line after recognizing one of the company’s bags in surveillance footage of the suspect.
In a piece published by the New York Times on December 5, Dering stated that he immediately informed the police upon noticing his product in images of the alleged assailant.
Dering also mentioned that if law enforcement requested assistance, he would consult with his general counsel to determine what information could be released without breaching the company’s policies.
Since making this disclosure, Dering has been subject to significant backlash, with online critics labeling him a ‘snitch’ and even calling for his execution.
One Twitter user remarked: “Don’t buy @peakdesignltd their CEO @dering_peter is a rat. #FreeLuigi.”
Another commented humorously: “Did Peter Dering, the founder and CEO of Peak Design with an estimated net worth of $23 million, actually snitch on #LuigiMangione? *Closing sale event coming soon.*”
A third user stated: “Imagine wanting to involve yourself in something you didn’t need to. Now people are getting rid of their bags and cancelling orders. The dip in Q4.”
Dering has issued a statement in response to the threats directed at him and Peak Design employees, assuring that customer information would only be disclosed to law enforcement if legally required by a subpoena.
He wrote: “We take our customer privacy seriously. There is misinformation being shared on social media that has triggered many serious threats for the safety of not only me, but our employees as well.
“I ask that you please consider the facts we are providing here and continue to instil trust in the Peak.”