Some of America’s most prominent amateur sleuths are refusing to help investigate the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, who was gunned down in a brazen attack in Manhattan. The case has sparked widespread anger and debate on social media, with many true crime fans and armchair detectives trying to piece together the evidence.
However, several high-profile sleuths have chosen not to get involved, citing the killer’s perceived justification for the murder. TikTok sleuth thatdaneshguy told his two million followers that he won’t help, stating that he doesn’t condone violence, but also doesn’t want to contribute to a narrative that makes the killer out to be a hero.
Savannah Sparks, a TikTok user who has been approached by police to help train officers in online surveillance, refused to comment on the case, using a strong expletive to express her disgust. Michael McWhorter, aka TizzyEnt, criticized the lack of outrage and empathy towards the victim, stating that people are more focused on the killer’s perceived justification rather than the brutal nature of the crime.
Experts have also weighed in, with Alex Goldenberg from the Network Contagion Research Institute at Rutgers University calling the surge of social media posts praising the killing “deeply concerning.” Sukrit Venkatagiri, an assistant professor of computer science at Swarthmore College, added that people are less motivated to help the victim because they don’t empathize with him.
The case has also raised concerns about the security of healthcare executives, with UnitedHealth and other insurers removing pictures of their executives from their websites. The investigation is ongoing, with the NYPD still searching for the killer.