{UAH} WHY INTERNET COMPANIES ARE NOT HELPING CAPTURE THE CEO KILLER

Why Are Internet Sleuths Not Helping Capture UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson's Killer

Story by Times Now Digital

why are internet sleuths not helping capture unitedhealthcare ceo brian thompson's killer

UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was fatally shot outside a busy New York City hotel on Wednesday in a brazen attack that has sparked public debate and subdued reactions from the usually active online true-crime community. The main suspect in the well-publicized murder has not yet been identified by police.

According to law enforcement officials, the 50-year-old CEO was the target of a masked shooter who left behind round shells bearing the phrases "deny," "defend," and "depose." Although the motivation is yet unknown, authorities think the incident was premeditated. The gunman has not been caught after escaping the site. The suspect, who allegedly took a bus in October from Atlanta to New York City, is being sought by investigators.

In contrast to earlier violent crimes, Thompson's murder has not drawn the attention of online investigators, a group that has been known to support investigations in instances such as Gabby Petito's abduction and death in 2021. Prominent artists on sites like Reddit and TikTok have mostly abstained from taking part in the hunt for the gunman.

With 1.3 million TikTok followers, content creator Savannah Sparks said she and her community had no plans to assist. Sparks, a healthcare professional, echoed online admiration for the death by criticizing the American medical system. Sparks made reference to a typical annoyance with healthcare coverage denials when he quipped, "Claim denied on my prayers."

Similar opinions were voiced by another well-known artist, "thatdaneshguy," who said he would neither support nor encourage violence. Online investigator Michael McWhorter, a TikTok creator with 6.7 million followers, says the lack of participation is unprecedented. “There’s no urgency among creators,” he said, describing the silence as unusual given the public nature of the crime.

Due to widespread discontent with the American healthcare system, some users have expressed sympathy for the killing, sparking heated conversations about the issue on social media. A recent Gallup survey found that 54% of respondents rated healthcare coverage as "fair" or "poor," marking a 24-year low in public acceptance of healthcare quality.

Images of a person of interest have been made public by the police, including security footage showing the suspect grinning as they check out of a hostel with a forged ID. Dozens of surveillance photos documenting the suspect's activities across Manhattan have been obtained by investigators. A $10,000 reward has been offered by the NYPD for information that results in an arrest and conviction.

Individuals' attempts to assist the probe have been criticized. Software developer Riley Walz's widely shared tweet, which claimed to have used Citi Bike data to track the shooter's path, was refuted by law authorities and received negative feedback online. Walz was called a "snitch" by several users, which discouraged participation even further.

The victim's identification, according to experts, could have had a role in the subdued reaction. Swarthmore College professor of computer science Sukrit Venkatagiri pointed out that the victim's perceived relatability frequently determines public empathy. “People don’t feel connected to a wealthy CEO,” Venkatagiri said.