Sick tribute at site of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson's death

A sick tribute appeared outside the New York City hotel where UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was gunned down by an assassin on Wednesday. 

A balloon with a sign taped to it reading 'CEO DOWN' over the image of a smiling star and party poppers was found outside the Hilton Hotel in Midtown Manhattan after Thompson, 50, was gunned down there Wednesday morning. 

The balloon was spotted as many Americans have joked about the CEO's death due to his company's track record of rejecting medical claims. 

The same image on the balloon was also shared on former Washington Post reporter Taylor Lorenz's BlueSky account.

'People have very justified hatred toward insurance company CEOs because these executives are responsible for an unfathomable amount of death and suffering,' she wrote in a separate post.

'As someone against death and suffering, I think it’s good to call out this broken system and the [people] in power who enable it.'

In perhaps the most shocking post, Lorenz shared a news report about Blue Cross Blue Shield announcing it would not cover anesthesia for the full length of certain surgeries in some states.

She wrote: 'And people wonder why we want these executives dead.' 

A congressman has condemned internet trolls currently gloating over the assassination of Thompson.

'Seems like leftists opposed to killing terrorists in the Middle East support killing CEOs in Midtown Manhattan,' wrote Representative Dean Phillips.

Phillips, a Democrat who represents Thompson's home district in Minnesota, spoke as online ghouls rejoiced in the cold-blooded execution of the healthcare chief.

Among them were one poster who wrote on X: 'Brian Thompson ran a company based off exploiting people during the most vulnerable times in their life.

'I'm not sad he's dead.'

Another shared a gif of a pastor praising Jesus, writing: 'CEOs of predatory corporations getting popped, turn this up. Peace out, Brian Thompson.'

Bluesky user Templin Jay wrote: 'I’m not condoning murder but if they’re gonna kill people, I can’t object too strenuously to them choosing someone who made his fortune making healthcare worse and more expensive.

'Caesar had his Brutus, Charles the First his Cromwell, and Brian Thompson, some guy in a ski mask. If this be treason…' 

BlueSky user Leslie Rising wrote, 'blue cross next,' referencing another of the country's health care companies.

Others offered less tasteless criticism of Thompson's murder while accusing UnitedHealthcare of 'killing tens of thousands of Americans every year by denying them health coverage.'

Thompson was executed by a gunman who remains on the loose as he prepared to attend Wednesday's annual investor conference for United Healthcare.

The medical giant was set to announce bumper revenue and profits, with Thompson, a married father, wearing a shirt and tie as he was gunned down.

Thompson's shooter - a white man dressed in a mask and dark clothes - knew from which door the CEO was going to emerge.

He waited outside it for 10 minutes before opening fire, The New York Times reported.

The shooter - carrying a large black gun that appeared to be fitted with a silencer - then fled on a bike and is believed to have ridden into Central Park.

NYPD officials have offered a $10,000 reward for information that could lead to the shooter's capture.

Thompson unloaded $12million of shares earlier this year, as UnitedHealthcare faced a Department of Justice investigation and a civil lawsuit over antitrust allegations.

His widow Paulette revealed he had been receiving threats in the run-up to his death.