- "Wanted" signs targeting executives popped up around NYC and hit lists have been posted online in the aftermath of the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Authorities are taking the threats seriously, warning boards and C-suite executives to stay on high alert.
"Wanted" posters targeting healthcare executives have appeared in New York City, alongside widespread social media posts circulating alleged “hit lists” of industry leaders after last week's assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Authorities are warning C-suite executives to be on high alert for potential copycats.
According to local NYC outlet PIX11, the wanted signs, which were captured on video and posted to TikTok, were spotted throughout Manhattan, including near Canal and Centre Streets. The posters featured images of corporate executives alongside messages warning that CEOs "should not feel safe." They included the phrases "deny,” “defend,” and “depose,” which police sources said matched bullet casings found at the scene of Thompson’s murder.
@bbq_lady #nyc #luigimangione ♬ original sound - BbqLady
PIX11 reported the posters were taken down by Wednesday afternoon, after seemingly appearing Tuesday, as authorities take these threats seriously.
In addition to the wanted posters, an NYPD bulletin obtained by ABC News warned of numerous threatening posts across social media, including posts featuring the names and salaries of several health insurance CEOs shared with comments "emphasizing that it is a hitlist and that CEOs should be afraid."
The NYPD did not immediately reply to Fortune's request for comment.
The assassination of Thompson outside a Hilton hotel in Midtown Manhattan last week has sent shockwaves through the business and healthcare communities. Investors, who were in town for UnitedHealthGroup's 2024 investor conference, were emotional at the event when remembering Thompson, calling him "a stand-up guy." Major companies have removed online information about their board members and executives in the wake of the murder, as they fear for their staffers' safety.
The search and arrest of the key suspect in the murder, Luigi Mangione, a 26-year-old Maryland resident, has dominated headlines and online discourse. While many have decried his actions and condemned outright murder, many others have framed him as a martyr and even dubbed him the "hot assassin". The McDonald's where Mangione was arrested was even review-bombed by angry supporters of Mangione who didn't want to see him captured.
The increased open hostility and frustration toward healthcare and other executives online following last week's shooting has authorities concerned, and they warned companies to stay vigilant.
CEOs told Fortune they're used to getting threats now and again, but the current climate feels different and much more heated. One health insurance CEO said, “How do you maintain a sense of purpose if you think your customers hate you?”
Another told Fortune: “When I was growing up, CEOs didn’t make millions more than everyone else in the company. I think we have to reflect on why there’s so much anger and do something about it.”
