With ‘wanted’ posters appearing everywhere, New York City is in a frenzy as people fear that violent crimes may be copied after Brian Thompson’s murder.
In the aftermath of the recent fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, unsettling ‘wanted’ posters targeting other prominent healthcare executives have appeared throughout New York City, escalating concerns about safety.
The posters, featuring images of OptumHealth CEO Heather Cianfrocco and UnitedHealth Group CEO Andrew Witty alongside Thompson, prompted the New York Police Department to issue warnings to executives about potential threats. A TikTok video showed the posters prominently displayed on traffic control boxes and walls along Canal Street, a bustling area in Downtown Manhattan. The chilling text on the posters declared: “Wanted. Denying medical care for corporate profit. Health care CEOs should not feel safe.”
At the bottom of the posters, the phrase “deny, defend, depose” mirrored language discovered on bullets found at the crime scene. This phrase references Jay Feinman’s book, Delay, Defend, Deny: Why Insurance Companies Don’t Pay Claims and What You Can Do About It. Luigi Mangione, the suspect in Thompson’s murder, reportedly espoused similar sentiments, as evidenced by his three-page manifesto that investigators are currently analyzing.
Further scrutiny of Mangione’s online presence has deepened concerns. His Goodreads account revealed a review of Industrial Society and Its Future (commonly known as the Unabomber Manifesto), in which Mangione disturbingly justified violence as a means of survival. Authorities are now examining these connections as part of their investigation into his motives.
In response to the alarming posters and Thompson’s death, the NYPD issued a bulletin warning of escalating risks. “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 statement read.
To enhance security, many healthcare companies have removed photos and identifying details of their senior executives from official websites. Meanwhile, Mangione appeared in court on Tuesday, resisting extradition to New York, where he faces a charge of second-degree murder.
