Law enforcement officials have released an alert, warning executives about the "growing negative sentiment" surrounding "the wealthy" following last week's assassination of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
"Over the last two years, online activity has indicated a growing negative sentiment around conglomerates, the wealthy, and executive staff at private and public organizations," a bulletin from Colorado law enforcement said, as reported by ABC News.
"Calls for targeting the executive team, their families, homes, and places of work using a variety of online and offline means to harass, disrupt, and harm the individuals and the organizations have become widespread," the bulletin continued.
The announcement comes after Luigi Mangione, the suspect charged in the shooting death of Thompson in midtown Manhattan, garnered somewhat of a fanbase after social media users discovered posts bashing large companies.
News of the CEO's death led several users to joke about killing Chipotle's CEO after the company announced it would be raising prices.
The idea of targeting executives also transpired off the internet, after vandals spray painted the phrase "Kill Your CEO" on several businesses in Chicago, as reported by ABC 7.
Someone hung a sign reading "Deny, Defend, Depose" on Lakeshore Drive; the sign includes an image of a handgun with a silencer. pic.twitter.com/EhvwwutuQ0
— Goofies Of Chicago (@Chicago_Goofies) December 10, 2024
A banner with the words "Deny, Defend, Depose" and the image of a handgun was seen hanging from a bridge over Chicago's Lake Shore Drive, referencing the words that were reportedly engraved on the bullets that were used to kill Thompson.
Several companies have already taken the steps to remove details about their executives from their websites, including Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Humana and CVSHealth.
Thompson was shot multiple times in Manhattan last week on his way to an investors meeting at the Hilton hotel. Mangione was arrested Monday and charged with murder after initially being brought in on gun charges.
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