By now you have heard or read about the death of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson who was gunned down last Wednesday outside the entrance to the New York Hilton Midtown hotel in Manhattan
A five-day manhunt for the suspected killer ended Monday in Altoona, Pennsylvania, when the alleged suspect was spotted eating in a local McDonald's restaurant.
He was arrested in Altoona for a weapons offense and other charges. The suspect was identified as Luigi Mangione, a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania who comes from a wealthy Maryland family. Other evidence linked to the murder of Thompson was found with Mangione at the time
Then strange events started happening.
First, the defendant, through his attorney, chose to fight extradition from Pennsylvania to New York to stand trial on more serious charges. So, he could be sitting in a Pennsylvania jail for several weeks before the extradition case is resolved.
Dislike, even hate, is something many feel for the large insurance conglomerates that have short-changed so many people over the years. But, that can never be a reason for murdering an insurance executive and a father of two.
Everyone is considered innocent until proven guilty, but it seems a cult-like following exploded with the arrest of Mangione by people who consider him somewhat of a hero. Perhaps they were cheated by an insurance company in the past.
First, there were the reports of wide social media posts urging people to boycott McDonald's because that's where the suspect was identified and arrested. Along with that came the death threats to Altoona police and residents of the city.
Then supporters began soliciting funds for the defense of Mangione. Some anonymous donors on the site hailed Mangione as a "hero" for targeting the man who helped oversee America's largest private insurer.
Now we have "Wanted" posters bearing the names and photos of Thompson (with a big red X over his face) and other high-profile health insurance executives being posted on the streets of the Big Apple. The posters warn that "HEALTH CARE CEOS SHOULD NOT FEEL SAFE" and include "DENY… DEFEND… DEPOSE" -- the three words found on the bullets allegedly shot by Mangione. The same posters are popping up on social media as "hit lists."
On Wednesday, Amazon was forced to remove merchandise sympathetic to Mangione emblazoned with the words "Deny Defend Depose" and "Free Luigi."
According to news reports, some of the items supporting the death of the insurance executive began appearing on websites like Amazon, TikTok and eBay even before Mangione had been identified as the suspected triggerman.
I agree that there is always a presumption of innocence until proven guilty, but in our current "Age of Rage," the presumption of innocence seems to include vile attacks on innocents in the name of and/or the cause of the accused.