The tragic murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson has left New York City and the entire country in disbelief. On a quiet Wednesday morning, the leader of the nation’s largest health insurer, which covers over 100 million Americans, was gunned down in what police are calling a premeditated attack. As the investigation unfolds, many are asking one big question: why?
Candice DeLong, a former FBI profiler and host of the Killer Psyche podcast, weighed in with chilling insights. Speaking on CNN, DeLong shared her thoughts on what might have driven the killer to target Thompson. “Well, clearly – and this is obvious – someone wanted him dead, without question dead,” she stated.
DeLong speculated that the killer was motivated by anger, hatred, or revenge, though she admitted we still know very little. “If we know the motivation, then that will help weed out certain people,” she said, adding, “What I’m seeing here is anger, possibly as much as hatred, and revenge as probable motivators.”
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While some might assume the killer and Thompson knew each other, DeLong doubts this. “It just — it’s hard to explain, but it doesn’t seem that way to me,” she said, noting the cold, calculated nature of the attack. The shooter approached Thompson from behind, carried out the murder swiftly, and disappeared on a Citi Bike, leaving police scrambling for leads.
Thompson led a company with massive influence. UnitedHealthcare insures one-third of Americans and employs hundreds of thousands of people. DeLong believes this makes Thompson’s role particularly vulnerable. “Given the size of the company he led, it could spell potential for lots of people that would be very unhappy,” she said. “So, the pool is big.”
Think about it: in today’s healthcare system, emotions run high. People struggle with unaffordable premiums, denied claims, and broken promises. It’s not hard to imagine how someone, overwhelmed by frustration, might blame the person at the top. But this doesn’t justify such an extreme and tragic act.
This tragedy highlights some uncomfortable truths about the state of healthcare in America. Our system is so deeply flawed that it inspires not just public outcry but, in this case, violence. People feel abandoned, mistreated, and betrayed. When corporations profit off people’s illnesses, it creates tension that can boil over.
Donald Trump, during his first term, proudly promised “phenomenal” healthcare. What did we get? A big, fat nothing burger. Under his administration, the wealthiest got tax cuts while regular Americans were left to fend for themselves. And now, as Trump begins his second term, do we honestly expect anything different?
Meanwhile, DeLong’s analysis adds another layer to this tragedy. “The shooter accomplished his mission and faded into the early morning hours,” she said. “It’s cold. It’s calculated.” While Republicans and Trump continue to make healthcare a game of politics, real lives are at stake. Thompson’s murder isn’t just a crime — it’s a symbol of the broken system we live in.
Featured image via Screengrab
