The murder of United Helath care CEO Brian Thompson outside a Manhattan hotel before an industry conference catapulted the killer Luigi Mangione to popularity.
In a surprising twist, more than a thousand donations have poured into an online fundraiser for Mangione’s legal defense, with numerous messages supporting him and even celebrating the crime.
The shooter turned a celebrated revolutionary with websites selling Mangione merchandise, including hats with “CEO Hunter” printed across a bullseye. “Wanted” posters with the faces of CEOs have appeared on walls in New York. Some social media users are even impressed over his smile and six-pack abs.
Thompson was killed on Dec. 4 and since then there has been a manhunt for the masked assailant, Mangione.
Though the crime has been condemned, the Ivy League educated, photogenic 26-year-old has become a sort of folk hero and online crush in certain circles.
Since his arrest on Monday, support has increased multifold to him.
Immense support
Many messages on the crowd-sourced fundraiser site GiveSendGo indicated a deep frustration by Americans over the US Healthcare system, as some treatments nd reimbursements were being denied to patients depending on the insurance coverage, in addition to increased outrage over rising income inequality and executive pay.
Meanwhile, police said that a gun found on Mangione with shell casings recovered at the crime scene. His fingerprints with a water bottle and energy bar wrapper found nearby also matched.
Some handwritten documents found in his possession also reflected the crime as a legitimate response to what Mangione viewed as corporate greed.
While being led into the court, Mangione lashed out himself shouting in part, “…completely out of touch and an insult to the intelligence of the American people!”
It is worth noting that Americans pay more for healthcare than residents of any other country.
Data shows expenditure on insurance premiums, out-of-pocket costs, pharmaceuticals and hospital services has increased in the last five years.