The tragic assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson has taken an unexpected and provocative turn as New Yorkers gathered in Washington Square Park to host a shooter look-alike contest, drawing widespread criticism for its insensitivity and timing. This event unfolded on Friday afternoon while authorities were on their fourth day of doing their nationwide manhunt for the unidentified perpetrator.
Contestant #6 wins UnitedHealthcare CEO assassin lookalike contest in NYC:
“I mean, I am the guy. I just got back from Atlanta.” pic.twitter.com/gK829mwbiu
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) December 7, 2024
The contest, deemed by many as distasteful, attracted eight participants dressed in hooded jackets and face coverings resembling the gunman’s attire. The audience, numbering in the dozens, cast their votes through cheers, lending an unsettling air of levity to a somber incident. The winner, dressed in a green jacket and mask—a near replica of the outfit worn by the alleged assassin—won $50 for his efforts.
Speaking to local reporters, the winner admitted to not altering his usual attire, stating, “I wear this everywhere,” and acknowledged personal frustrations with health insurance companies, though he clarified he was not a UnitedHealthcare customer. The participant also remarked on the broader societal discontent, saying, “People do not feel great about the current state of things in our world.”
Adding an unexpected element to the event, a NYC-based K-pop dance crew, GRL1S, performed in the background as the contestants paraded their outfits. One individual’s costume included a handwritten sign that read “Deny Defend Depose”—a chilling reference to the message reportedly found on shell casings at the crime scene.
Despite the jovial tone of the gathering, some onlookers expressed discomfort. “Bro, I don’t know if you all should be doing this — but your life choices, I guess,” one bystander was heard shouting.
Brian Thompson was fatally shot outside a Midtown Manhattan hotel early Wednesday morning as he walked to an investor event. Authorities described the brazen daylight attack as calculated, with the gunman swiftly fleeing the scene on a bicycle before allegedly boarding a bus out of the city. Surveillance footage later captured the suspect, unmasked, engaging in casual conversation with a youth hostel worker on the Upper West Side.
As of Saturday evening, law enforcement confirmed the shooter’s identity but refrained from releasing further details. Mayor Eric Adams assured the public that efforts to locate the suspect were ongoing, calling the case “a top priority.”
The controversial event in Washington Square Park gained traction online, with videos and photos circulating widely across social media platforms. Critics denounced the contest for trivializing a violent crime, while some commenters defended it as a form of social commentary on systemic dissatisfaction with healthcare policies.
“We don’t take anything seriously,” read one viral post sarcastically summarizing the mood of the event.
The assassination and its aftermath have left New Yorkers grappling with mixed emotions, as the tragedy unfolds against the backdrop of a city known for its resilience and irreverent culture. However, many called for greater sensitivity and respect for the gravity of the situation.
In a most recent update to the case, a 26-year-old man was arrested Monday over the targeted killing of a health insurance executive on the streets of New York, with police crediting a fast food employee in Pennsylvania who spotted a suspicious-looking customer.
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