The Assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson refers to the murder of 50-year-old Brian Thompson, the CEO of American multinational health insurance and services company UnitedHealthcare, in Midtown, Manhattan, New York. Thompson was shot down by an unknown gunman in front of a Hilton Hotel early in the morning of December 4th, 2024. CCTV footage of the shooting leaked on Twitter / X and Reddit soon after. In the security camera video, the gunman is seen wearing a dark grey or black hoodie and a light-colored backpack. He notably appears to use a sidearm with a suppressor to kill Thompson. It was originally reported that the gunman fled on a pay-per-ride Citi Bike, however, the claim was later retracted although the suspect did flee on an e-bike of some kind. The event quickly became international news as it spawned numerous memes and viral reactions in early December 2024, many of which mocked or celebrated Thompson's death due to controversies with healthcare in the U.S. as people humorously championed the unknown gunman. Celebratory remarks then escalated when it was reported that the words "Deny, Defend, Depose" were written on the shell casings of the bullets used in the assassination. It was speculated by internet users and news outlets that the phrase was a reference to Jay M. Feinman's 2010 book Delay, Deny, Defend, an expose on insurance companies about why they don't pay claims and what people can do about it.
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