Former Washington Post reporter Taylor Lorenz defended the gruesome execution of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on Wednesday in a stark social media post that suggested other healthcare executives should suffer a similar fate — during Hundreds more twisted trolls took to the internet to revel in the tragedy.

“And people are wondering why we want these leaders dead,” Lorenz wrote on BlueSky, a microblogging social media network, along with an article about Blue Cross Blue Shield no longer providing full anesthesia for some surgeries length covers.

The tech reporter made the sickening statement just hours after Thompson, 50, was shot outside a Midtown hotel, leaving his two sons without a father.

Lorenz later shared another user’s post, saying, “Hypothetically speaking, emailing other insurance CEOs a simple ‘You’re next’ would be an actionable threat?” Completely unrelated to current events, by the way.”

The journalist, who recently launched her own publication User Mag, continued to support criticism from Thompson and other company executives.

“People have a very justified hatred of insurance company CEOs because these executives are responsible for an unimaginable amount of death and suffering. As someone who is against death and suffering, I think it is good to denounce this broken system and the people in power who enable it,” she wrote.

A few hours later, Lorenz tried to downplay her comment, emphasizing that she only wanted to promote “peaceful letter campaigns.”

“I hope that people learn the names of all of these insurance company CEOs and engage in very peaceful letter-writing campaigns so that they stop recklessly murdering thousands of innocent Americans by denying them insurance coverage,” Lorenz wrote.

“Health care is a human right. We need universal healthcare now,” she added.

Lorenz led the pack of sick and unsympathetic internet trolls who came out of the woods Wednesday to celebrate Thompson’s death and denigrate the U.S. health care system – with many directly targeting the company run by Thompson.

“Today we mourn the death of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson, who was shot…” Wait, I’m sorry – today we mourn the 68,000 Americans who die needlessly every year, making insurance company executives like Brian Thompson multimillionaires “can be achieved,” wrote Anthony Zenkus, a professor at the Columbia School of Social Work.

Others took a tougher stance on the U.S. health care system. One person wrote under a news article about the murder: “Did he have a pre-existing condition?”

“As a UnitedHealthCare policyholder, I completely understand the actions taken,” another person wrote.

Another

“I received a push notification to exercise caution as the United Healthcare shooter is still at large,” wrote comedian Samantha Ruddy. “I personally don’t feel like I’m on the assassin’s radar because I’m not the CEO of a highly divisive multi-billion dollar insurance company.”

Political activist Tobita Chow shared screenshots from TikTok on X showing users’ heartless reactions to the murder.

“Prior approval, denied claims, debt collection and prayers to his family,” one commenter wrote. Another added: “I just can’t find the care. Maybe if they ask for pre-approval of my care. Then, once they take care of the required deductible, I may be able to top up some for the care.”

The internet also didn’t take kindly to UnitedHealthcare’s Facebook post expressing sadness over Thompson’s death. The post, shared on Wednesday afternoon, had received 35,000 “haha” reactions, compared to a meager 2,200 “sad” reactions.

Thompson was shot repeatedly by a masked gunman who was waiting outside the Hilton hotel on Sixth Avenue, where the CEO was hosting an investor conference early Wednesday morning, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said.

“There had been some threats,” his wife, Paulette Thompson, told NBC News in her first comments since her husband’s killing early Wednesday.

“Basically, I don’t know, a lack of reporting?” she said, referring to her 50-year-old husband’s role as CEO of UnitedHealthcare’s insurance division.

“I don’t know any details. All I know is that he said there were some people who threatened him,” she told NBC News by phone.

“I can’t really give a thoughtful answer at the moment. “I just found this out and I’m trying to comfort my kids,” she added.

A manhunt was underway for the suspect as the NYPD and CrimeStoppers had offered a $10,000 reward for information.