[kaashif]

I don't think they're being malicious. It is definitely a normal reaction to respond with incredulity at something incredible.

As in, someone was actually killed because their friend forked an open source project? There is clearly more to the story, it's not like if I forked Audacity tomorrow people would be after me immediately.

The explanation, if any, involves the whole thing being very public and 4chan harassment, etc.