# UnitedHealthcare CEO fatally shot in Manhattan \[breaking news: 2024-12-04\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Tags:** breaking-news\ **Created:** [December 4, 2024, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159 "2024-12-04T16:11:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 34
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2024, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/663 "2024-12-10T12:43:35Z")
I don’t sympathize with him at all. But at the same time, I don’t particularly condemn him, either, or, as I’ve said, join in the celebration over his murder. He’s just another interchangeably conscienceless businessbot blandly steering just another sociopathically rapacious corporation through the waters of late-stage capitalism. I’ll be astonished if his killing changes anything. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2024, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/664 "2024-12-10T12:45:54Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > > [@LSLGuy](#): > > > > Under ACA, preexisting conditions _must_ be covered. > > I’m aware of that, but all things considered it sounds like United must have found some way of not paying for the treatment he needed, and that was what motivated him to kill. Perhaps they (or their AI) decided that it was “unnecessary care”, or the plan on the individual market that he could afford doesn’t provide enough coverage to make it affordable. That’s my guess. Back pain is notorious for being expensive and hard to prove cause. Hell, i have a friend with crippling back pain who DOES have coverage who is staring at 4 possible causes, each of which is both expensive and risky to treat, and wrestling with what to try. But there are a lot of fights between insurers and claimants over back pain. And i bet his insurer is stingy united health care. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2024, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/665 "2024-12-10T12:48:10Z")
Also, fwiw, i reached out to an actuary chat site, and didn’t find anyone who worked at UHC, but did find someone with friends there. He said the CEO was very popular and the internal bulletin board is full of expressions of grief. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2024, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/666 "2024-12-10T13:56:58Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > CEO whose name I’ve already forgotten. I do remember it, but only because it is the same as a character actor I like. > [@wolfpup](#): > > a case that they’re guaranteed to lose. This is an open-and-shut case if ever there was one. I remember this case, guy named Simpson, murdered his wife and another guy. They had DNA evidence linking him to the crime. I heard he was acquitted. And I just ant to repeat this: > [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > “What you can determine from his behaviour is this person is a practised, seasoned, trained professional killer,” Mr Rankhorn [FBI] said. Where the reality is > [@Odesio](#): > > Like most assassins, it looks like this guy is just a kook. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2024, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/667 "2024-12-10T14:25:58Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > > [@wolfpup](#): > > > > a case that they’re guaranteed to lose. This is an open-and-shut case if ever there was one. > > I remember this case, guy named Simpson, murdered his wife and another guy. They had DNA evidence linking him to the crime. I heard he was acquitted. Not the same situation at all. The Simpson case had at least some shred of plausible deniability (“if the glove don’t fit …”) along with a major dose of racism favouring the defendent. This guy has no such advantages. The fact that he’s beloved in social media means nothing. ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2024, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/668 "2024-12-10T14:29:59Z")
Never mind sorry ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2024, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/669 "2024-12-10T14:55:45Z")
I agree the guy looks very much like an Italian / Greek / somewhere Mediterranean guy. Which is unsurprising since that _is_ his ethnicity. But that doesn’t mean he looks like everybody from there or like nobody from there. With all respect to the folks who are (semi-) face blind, there are hundreds of millions of Americans who are not. And whose mind routinely sees random people and instantly automatically connects them to other remembered faces from other contexts. Not with 100% accuracy of course, but it happens all day every day to the people whose mind works that way. It was statistically inevitable that if the perp went unmasked, some people in some places would connect him to all the published pix of his face. And some fraction of those people would phone it in. If he was still at large now and into the reasonable future, the amount of coverage of this cooling case would tend to decline over time. Two months from now he’d be very much last year’s news. The internet famously never forgets, but everyone’s _feed_ of the internet has the attention span of a hyperactive 2yo child. So all he _really_ needs to do is remain with his face covered for a month or two until the furor subsides. _Then_ his odds on slipping around unrecognized get much better. But not when he visited that McDs, a couple days after the shooting. ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2024, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/670 "2024-12-10T15:22:28Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > I remember this case, guy named Simpson, murdered his wife and another guy. They had DNA evidence linking him to the crime. I heard he was acquitted. It really depends on how low you want to go as a defense attorney. The Simpson team’s legal strategy basically consisted of putting the LAPD on trial in front of a mostly black jury in an era when the LAPD was known for racist shenanigans. A lawyer in this case might be thinking a similar strategy, but with the insurance industry, is worth a try. An acquittal, though, is probably too much to hope for. Even O.J. didn’t have to worry about a video of him committing the crime. But I can see a lawyer thinking that if they can get even one juror who’s been jerked around by their insurance or who has had a family member denied treatment by their insurance for a serious ailment, they can at least get a mistrial (though the government will just keep retrying it until a verdict is delivered, and that verdict, ultimately, is not likely to be favorable to the defendant). ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2024, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/671 "2024-12-10T15:28:46Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > It was statistically inevitable that if the perp went unmasked, some people in some places would connect him to all the published pix of his face. And some fraction of those people would phone it in. As I said above, I’m not face blind, and I still find it astounding given how little information we had about his face. You could only see about half of it, it’s not particularly clear or high resolution, you don’t see his hair, ears, identifying marks, anything. Like I said: bushy eyebrows, big nose, chiseled chin. That’s not a hell of a whole lot to go on. Apparently it was for the McDonalds, but, man, what a shot in the dark. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2024, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/672 "2024-12-10T15:41:05Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > They did not immediately think it was related to the absence of their colleague, known affectionately as “BT,” according to the people. I’ve been thinking about a nickname for this killer. I’m not a fan of “the Insurance Adjuster” and such. But “the BT Killer” has a certain ring to it. Surely, there can’t be another killer of note with a similar nickname. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2024, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/673 "2024-12-10T15:48:14Z")
Well, he has to eat something. If he didn’t go to McDonald’s, it would have been a supermarket, or some other restaurant. ---
**Author:** ![JoePockets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8dc957/32.png) [@JoePockets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoePockets)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2024, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/674 "2024-12-10T15:53:14Z")
Seems to me if he hadn’t had a blue mask of in McDonalds he would have not attracted attention on himself ….masts for the most part are not common anymore! Also carrying the evidences of the crime was a complete checkmate to his plan!….How long before Law & Order copy it? Definitely not Columbo worthy! ---
**Author:** ![JacobSwan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@JacobSwan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JacobSwan)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2024, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/675 "2024-12-10T16:08:14Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > So all he _really_ needs to do is remain with his face covered for a month or two until the furor subsides. But if he waits that long the McRib might be withdrawn again. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2024, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/676 "2024-12-10T16:51:21Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > > [@wolfpup](#): > > > > Looks like he’s not even going to try for an insanity defense. He’s toast. I predict life without the possibility of parole, or maybe possibility of parole after something like 25 years. > > Don’t prisoners get all medically required medical care…? I once envisioned a short subject/ad in which a man in jail is being interviewed by a reporter, who asks why he, a non-indigent person, carried out that dramatic armed robbery. The suspect explains that he has treatable prostate cancer but the insurance company refused coverage, so he sought treatment where he knew he could get it: in prison. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2024, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/677 "2024-12-10T18:22:33Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > > [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > > > They did not immediately think it was related to the absence of their colleague, known affectionately as “BT,” according to the people. > > I’ve been thinking about a nickname for this killer. I’m not a fan of “the Insurance Adjuster” and such. But “the BT Killer” has a certain ring to it. Surely, there can’t be another killer of note with a similar nickname. ☹ This reminds me of one of my favorite criminal nicknames…. If you ever get insulted by your partner making a nasty joke about the size or shape of your ass and that escalates into a physical argument and you end up killing him……you will forever be known as The Butt Crack Killer. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2024, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/678 "2024-12-10T20:15:05Z")
The only bad review I ever saw of my favorite breakfast place was on Yelp. I looked around some more and concluded it was the place people go to be trolls. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2024, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/679 "2024-12-10T20:32:58Z")
From ABC News: > [@](#): > > Mangione had several handwritten pages on him that expressed a “disdain for corporate America” and indicated “he’s frustrated with the health care system in the United States,” NYPD Chief of Detective Joe Kenny told ABC News’ “Good Morning America” on Tuesday. “Specifically, he states how we are the No. 1 most expensive health care system in the world, yet the life expectancy of an American is ranked 42 in the world,” Kenny said. > **[UnitedHealthcare CEO killing latest: Luigi Mangione yells to press outside...](https://abcnews.go.com/US/luigi-mangione-charged-murder/story?id=116623608)** > > Luigi Mangione yelled to the press about "an insult to the intelligence of the American people" as he was physically dragged into a Pennsylvania courthouse. Given that Mangione was caught scarfing down McDonald’s food (he’s pictured eating what appears to be a bag of fries), his impassioned critiques of corporate America and Americans’ health/life expectancy have a certain reek of irony. An “insult to the intelligence of the American people”. 😆 ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2024, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/680 "2024-12-10T20:49:36Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > I once envisioned a short subject/ad in which a man in jail is being interviewed by a reporter, who asks why he, a non-indigent person, carried out that dramatic armed robbery. The suspect explains that he has treatable prostate cancer but the insurance company refused coverage, so he sought treatment where he knew he could get it: in prison. I think this varies by state. I do prison ministry and what an inmate in Texas told me is that the prison often just ignores cancer and whatnot and lets inmates die, with no accountability. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2024, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/681 "2024-12-10T20:51:35Z")
That sounds like Texas ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2024, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159/682 "2024-12-10T20:53:07Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > …and several books about living with chronic back pain, the latter of which probably has something to do with his motive. And bullet placement. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159.md?page=33) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unitedhealthcare-ceo-fatally-shot-in-manhattan-breaking-news-2024-12-04/1011159.md?page=35)