After Action Report:
- While the situation remains fluid and details continue to emerge, the suspect charged with shooting the UnitedHealthcare executive and father of two in the back was arrested with a handwritten anti-capitalist and anti-corporate manifesto.
- The recent assassination is receiving support and justification across various social media platforms. There is a dark fandom sexualizing and fetishizing the murder suspect.
- High-profile politicians, such as Representative Alexandria Ocasio Cortez and Senator Bernard Sanders have issued statements akin to justifying the violent murder.
- Industries perceived “unethical” by social media mobs, such as oil and energy, pharmaceutical, and finance, should consider strengthening their security posture out of an abundance of caution.
After Action Report (AAR) and Incident Overview:
Following the first assassination attempt on then-presidential candidate Donald J. Trump, RMS International predicted an increase in politically and socially-motivated violence. Additionally, hyper-partisanship and politically motivated violence was forecast to continue and possible escalate in RMS International’s inaugural 2025 Global Threat Forecast. Last week, the two projections intertwined in the targeted assassination of Brian Thompson, the Chief Executive Officer for UnitedHealthcare.
According to law enforcement officials, the suspect charged with shooting the UnitedHealthcare executive and father of two in the back was arrested with a handwritten anti-capitalist and anti-corporate manifesto. The recent assassination suggests a disturbing trend after a recent election cycle stained by two assassination attempts on a candidate. The recent murder of the CEO suggests an emerging threat and possible trends of individuals acting out their frustrations through violence, this time against a business figure.
The recent 2024 US Presidential Elections showed an increasing disenfranchisement within the general public, a sentiment that suggests a growing frustration against the political elites. This discontent seems to be spreading from the political establishment to Corporate America and the public sector is full of complacent companies and individuals which often lack the security structure and intelligence apparatus of the US Government.
Even more disturbing, the recent assassination is receiving support and justification across various social media platforms. There is a dark fandom sexualizing and fetishizing the murder suspect, Additionally, high-profile politicians, such as Representative Alexandria Ocasio Cortez and Senator Bernard Sanders have issued statements akin to justifying the violent murder. Essentially, a minor but very loud segment of the population is endorsing the targeted assassination.
Impact Analysis and After-Action Report:
While the assassination of the UnitedHealthcare CEO remains a very fluid situation, businesses -especially those industries perceived “unethical” by social media mobs, such as oil and energy, pharmaceutical, and finance- should consider strengthening their security posture out of an abundance of caution. The sexualization and celebrity-like status of the suspect could generate copycat incidents and has already prompted at least one similar threat. The volatile rhetoric stemming from high-profile politicians will likely exacerbate tensions.
Recommended Course of Action:
Individuals in leadership and organizations, especially entities that are aligned politically or perceived “unethical” by social media extremists, should consider developing an increased or elevated security posture. High profile targets should consider enacting or developing a protective intelligence apparatus to monitor threats to executive leadership and personnel. Similarly, residences or offices located near possible targets should develop or review emergency action plans. To find out how to mitigate the risks of politically-motivated or social-justice related violence consider contacting RMS International’s security professionals at ask@rmsiusa.com to develop a customized and resilient protection plan to protect yourself and loved ones, as well as your organization, assets, personnel, operations, and reputation.
About RMS International:
Founded in 2013, RMS International provides ad hoc and contracted close protection, estate security, international travel management, corporate executive protection, personnel and asset security, and discreet investigative services. Operating a state-of-the-art Risk Operations Center in West Palm Beach, they provide 24/7 overwatch of global operations in Asia, Europe, Africa and throughout the Americas. RMS International delivers peace of mind in a chaotic world. Connect with us at RMSIUSA.com.
