A help desk could be established in New York City for CEOs to call following the assassination of UnitedHealthcare executive Brian Thompson.
Governor Kathy Hochul is considering the creation of a ‘CEO threats hotline’ due to the overwhelming public support for the alleged shooter, Luigi Mangione.
The 26-year-old suspect has been apprehended and faces charges of first-degree murder for the death of the father-of-two, as well as two counts of second-degree murder, including one charge that defines the act as ‘terrorism.’ Additional charges include forgery and weapons offenses.
Mangione has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Commenting on the incident, New York District Attorney Alvin Bragg stated that the University of Pennsylvania alum, who earned both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in computer science, committed the shooting with the intent to instill fear.
On the other hand, New York Police Department Commissioner Jessica Tisch criticized the public for celebrating the actions of Mangione, who allegedly shot Thompson in the back while he was en route to an insurance conference in New York City on the morning of December 4.
“In the nearly two weeks since Mr. Thompson’s killing, we have seen a shocking and appalling celebration of cold-blooded murder,” Tisch declared.
“We don’t celebrate murders and we don’t lionize the killing of anyone.”
Mangione was detained on December 9 while using his laptop in a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania. He is currently being held in a Pennsylvania prison, awaiting a court hearing scheduled for tomorrow (December 19) to determine whether he will be extradited to New York to face the charges.
Although there are no immediate threats to company executives, New York State is taking precautionary measures to protect CEOs who might receive threats. Hochul is expected to meet with 175 corporate representatives, along with Homeland Security and counterterrorism officials.
The primary goal of the meeting is to discuss the exchange of information regarding potential threats with corporate security teams.
Kathy Wylde, the CEO of the Partnership for New York City, told Baller Alert: “She wants to make sure that the state resources, specifically the domestic counterterrorism resources, are focused on being supportive, sharing information.”
She added, “Demonization of corporate executives is not new. It was part of the rhetoric in the financial crisis of 2008/09.”
In Florida, a mother with three children expressed her frustration to Blue Cross Blue Shield after a claim was denied, telling them: “You people are next.”