A poll reports that 41 percent of people between the ages of 18 and 29 find the killing of United HealthCare’s CEO acceptable, more than the 40 percent in that demographic who found it unacceptable.
The shocking poll comes amid revelations of anger over health insurance companies that has come into a different light with the killing of Brian Thompson, the UnitedHealthcare CEO.
Luigi Mangione was arrested last week in Pennsylvania and faces charges in Thompson’s killing.
The survey from Emerson College Polling found 68 percent of respondents overall found the actions of the person who shot and killed Thompson unacceptable.
But a startling 24 percent of those aged 18 to 29 found it “somewhat acceptable” while 17 percent of that group found it completely acceptable.
Since Thompson was shot, first in the back and head-on as he fell to the group, a number of posts have been highlighted on social media of people saying they did not sympathize with his killing.
Spencer Kimball, the executive director of Emerson College Polling, said 22 percent of Democrats said they found the killing acceptable, compared to 16 percent of Independents and 12 percent of Republicans. He said the overall findings underscored “shifting societal attitudes among the youngest electorate and within party lines.”
Mangione was arrested on Dec. 9 in Altoona, Pa. by authorities following a tip from a McDonald’s employee. Law enforcement is not sure about the killer’s motive.
Mangione is slated to be in Pennsylvania on Thursday morning for his next court appearance. Another proceeding will take place on Dec. 30 with New York attempting to extradite the Maryland native where he would face a murder charge, according to court records.
The survey was conducted from Dec. 11-13 among 1,000 registered voters. The margin of error was 3 percentage points.
