The assassination of Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, is becoming more mysterious by the day. Early Wednesday morning, Thompson was shot dead outside the New York Hilton Midtown hotel. The shooter, who is still on the loose, used a suppressed 9mm handgun and targeted Thompson as he arrived at the hotel.
What’s even more chilling is the discovery made by investigators. Bullet casings found at the crime scene were engraved with the words “deny,” “defend,” and “depose.” These mysterious markings have led authorities to question whether the murder was tied to the insurance industry and its notorious practices.
Many are speculating that the engravings refer to the 2010 book “Delay Deny Defend: Why Insurance Companies Don’t Pay Claims and What You Can Do About It,” written by Jay Feinman. The book exposes how major insurance companies, including UnitedHealthcare, often refuse to pay legitimate claims to boost their profits. It argues that this isn’t just a few bad apples but a widespread and systematic problem.
After the discovery of the bullet casings, the term “Delay Deny Defend” quickly went viral online, sparking conversations about the cruel tactics used by big insurance companies. According to recent data, UnitedHealthcare has some of the highest claim denial rates in the U.S. This has led many to wonder: Could the murder be connected to years of anger and frustration over unfair insurance practices?
But the mystery deepens. The murder has become a flashpoint for those angry at insurance executives. Just hours after Thompson’s death, former Washington Post reporter Taylor Lorenz made a controversial post online, suggesting that people had “justified hatred” toward health insurance company CEOs, claiming that these executives are responsible for “unfathomable death and suffering.”
Lorenz’s post sparked a heated debate about the role of insurance companies in American life. She argued that executives like Thompson embody a broken system that causes pain for millions. Lorenz wasn’t alone in her criticism. Other journalists and commentators also weighed in, with some making dark jokes about Thompson’s murder, questioning whether it was the product of the toxic environment created by the insurance industry.
One writer pointed out that people tend to see violence as something interpersonal, ignoring how policies and corporate greed can cause far more suffering and death on a larger scale. Others pointed to the way the healthcare system in the U.S. often leaves people in deep financial distress, adding fuel to the anger many feel toward the system.
As the investigation continues, the world waits for more answers. What is the connection between the bullet casings and the shocking murder? Was Thompson’s death truly an act of revenge tied to the insurance industry’s practices? And how much does this case reveal about the deep flaws in the healthcare system that so many Americans depend on?
The twists in this case seem to be unfolding like a real-life crime drama, and there’s no telling where the investigation will lead next. One thing is clear: the assassination of Brian Thompson has ignited a firestorm of questions and emotions about the power of the insurance industry, and the answers may be far more complex than anyone imagined.
