In New York, the police department released a notice on Tuesday alerting to an increased threat to health care leaders after the shocking murder of United Healthcare’s CEO, Brian Thompson, last week.
The notice pointed to widespread online posts revealing names and earnings of various health insurance bosses, as well as numerous “Wanted” posters with pictures of these executives scattered across Manhattan. It also mentioned the ongoing celebration of Thompson’s death on various social media platforms.
This alert highlights concerns over social media content suggesting that Luigi Mangione, the shooting suspect, might be idolized as a “martyr,” potentially motivating extremists to take similar actions.
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With Mangione’s action having the “capability to inspire a variety of extremists and grievance-driven malicious actors to violence,” the NYPD encouraged companies to increase precautions and security for executives.
Mangione was arrested in Pennsylvania Monday and faces charges in New York including second-degree murder.
ABC News obtained this photo of the suspect in the shooting death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
Obtained by ABC News
“Both prior to and after the suspected perpetrator’s identification and arrest, some online users across social media platforms reacted positively to the killing, encouraged future targeting of similar executives, and shared conspiracy theories regarding the shooting,” the bulletin said.
The bulletin highlighted a viral social media post featuring the names and salaries of eight health insurance CEOs, which some online users shared “emphasizing that it is a hitlist and that CEOs should be afraid,” according to the bulletin. The “Wanted” posters in Manhattan included the images of corporate executives and bullet-shaped graphics warning, “UnitedHealthcare killed everyday people for the sake of profit. As a result Brian Thompson was denied his claim to life. Who will be denied next?”” and “Wall Street CEOs Should Not Feel Safe, Deny, Defend, Depose.”
There is growing concern that the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO could inspire copycats.
The NYPD bulletin also included multiple examples of individuals expressing their belief online that Thompson fully deserved to be murdered based on his role in the insurance industry.
“My mom was denied chemo multiple times and suffered tremendously they missed her cancer for two years because she was constantly denied… she will have life altering damage because of it. F*** him may he rest in piss,” one person wrote, according to the report.
A Reddit post cited in the bulletin said: “The politicians are compromised and the corporations are suffocating us – all CEO’s should be considered. Sucks when your government is bought by these CEO’s who immediately impact the masses.”
