The suspected killer of UnitedHealthcare CEO, Brian Thompson, arrested by police on Monday, has received public sympathy for his crime, sparking fear of copy-cat attacks.
In a report issued by the NYPD, Luigi Mangione, was driven to kill Thompson in anger against the health insurance industry and against “corporate greed”.
“This rhetoric may signal an elevated threat facing executives in the near-term, with the shooting itself having the capability to inspire a variety of extremists and grievance-driven malicious actors to violence,” the NYPD report said.
Police officials reportedly found a handwritten note on Mangione during his arrest that stated, “These parasites had it coming,” and “Ill will toward corporate America.”
At the crime scene, police discovered bullet casings inscribed with the words “deny,” “defend,” and “depose.” Following the release of this information, merchandise featuring these phrases began appearing online. Additionally, fundraisers on GoFundMe were created to support Mangione’s legal fund; however, those have since been removed.
Mangione was arrested at a McDonald’s in Pennsylvania, where he was recognized by an employee who subsequently called the police. The McDonald’s restaurant’s page on Google and Yelp has since been targeted by Mangione sympathizers, who have left negative reviews, calling workers “rats” and “snitches.”
By CEO NA Editorial Staff
