Shock Twist: Luigi Mangione Backpack Maker Breaks Silence Amid UnitedHealthcare CEO Homicide Probe

We already knew what the man suspected of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was wearing before we even learned his name was Luigi Mangione. The defendant is accused of throwing a Tommy Hilfiger jacket and a pile of Monopoly cash in Central Park. As the manhunt grew more intense, pictures of a second jacket—rumored to be a $225 sherpa-lined Levi’s hoodie—went viral. Additionally, Peter Dering, CEO of San Francisco-based Peak Design, told the New York Times that he contacted authorities to offer his help as soon as he saw pictures of the shooter’s bag.

However, Peak Design is facing boycott threats, while Hilfiger and Levi’s, according to GQ, are witnessing a boost in sales of the goods Mangione looked to be wearing. Although Hilfiger and Levi’s have not commented on the incident, Dering’s acknowledged desire to help with the inquiry has led to accusations of “snitching” on Luigi Mangione, who is viewed by many as a good, compassionate person who is prepared to confront the dysfunctional US healthcare system.

Dering told the Times the day after the shooting that he had gotten “about 10 texts” from people who had identified the suspect’s rucksack in surveillance images that the NYPD had made public. According to NBC, Dering beat even Mangione’s mother, who “told police her son could be the person seen in surveillance photos one day before his arrest,” by calling the NYPD tipline “immediately.” Nevertheless, a tipline operator informed the CEO that police had already received “hundreds” of calls identifying the bag, proving that Dering was likewise behind the curve.

“Of course, my instinct would be to do whatever is possible to help track this person down,” Dering said in response to the callers’ refusal to interview with the New York Times. The outcome of such intuition may be seen in Peak Design’s most recent Instagram postings. One of the many critical comments that have been left on a two-week-old post about the company’s newest physical location is, “Yall effed with the wrong people.” Savor the remaining portion of your business. The rat emoji appears frequently in the 29 comments on a post about corporate generosity from December 3.

Although the criticism seems to have begun with Dering’s first, well-publicized offer to help police, it picked up speed as rumors circulated on Reddit and social media that Dering gave detectives information about Mangione using a serial number linked to the backpack. The outcry became so loud that the company declared on its website and social media platforms on Saturday that only customers who voluntarily register the product with the company (as they would for warranty services) can be linked to their bag, and that “Peak Design has not provided customer information to police and would only do so under the order of a subpoena.”

According to Axios, Dering also denounced the claims in an email to consumers, stating that the debate has raised safety concerns at the company. “Misinformation is being spread on social media, which has led to numerous grave threats to our employees’ and my safety,” Dering wrote. “I ask that you please consider the facts we are providing here and continue to instill trust in the Peak Design brand.”