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Police Blast 'Hero' Status Given to Luigi Mangione
In the aftermath of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s murder, New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch is calling out those celebrating the accused killer, Luigi Mangione. FOX 5's Sharon Crowley has the story.
NEW YORK - At a news conference announcing the indictment of Luigi Mangione, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch condemned the trend of support on social media for the alleged CEO killer, warning that online threats and posters celebrating the suspect are "shocking and appalling."
"Social media has erupted with praise for this cowardly attack," Tisch said.
Mangione, 26, is charged with the murder of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson, a crime prosecutors allege was driven by his anger at the U.S. healthcare system. The murder, which occurred in Midtown Manhattan earlier this month, has sparked an outpouring of support for Mangione, with some hailing him as a hero.
Posters and Online Threats
The NYPD has identified threatening posters appearing in the city, some showing Thompson’s photo with an "X" over his face, others threatening other CEOs.
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Mangione Manhunt: From Midtown to Altoona
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On social media, the situation is not much better, with a deluge of posts prompting healthcare CEOs to scrub their websites of personal information and photos.
"We’ve had a torrent of online threats. We’ve had real-world activity that the police commissioner flagged, which is abhorrent, and it causes concerns," said Rebecca Weiner, the NYPD Deputy Commissioner for Counterterrorism.
Legal Limitations
Despite law enforcement's concerns, criminal defense attorney James Kousouros pointed out that much of the activity surrounding Mangione’s supporters does not necessarily violate the law.
"People have a right to say what they feel under the first amendment, they can voice their opinions," Kousouros said. "There is a line that can be crossed, if you actually pose a threat or incite violence or if you do something that incites violence, then that's a different story. But expressing yourself, be it through what somebody would call artwork or in words is everybody's right."
Investigators believe Mangione's actions were fueled by anger at the U.S. healthcare system, which may explain why some have rallied behind him.
Mangione remains in custody in Pennsylvania and is expected to be extradited to New York to face charges soon.