On Wednesday, social media greeted the shocking news of the apparent targeted assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in midtown Manhattan with sick mockery and criticized the U.S. insurance industry for profiting from the denial of life-saving medical treatments. Today, the New York Police Department released two more images of their main suspect in the shooting – the first showing his entire face – and the internet went wild.

A user on wearing a jacket with a flashing smile. The image was taken at a hostel on the Upper West Side, where the suspect allegedly used a fake New Jersey ID to check in. Law enforcement confirmed to CNN that they interviewed a hostel employee who said she asked him to lower his neck gaiter face mask while flirting with him. (Security video footage from a Starbucks released by the NYPD on Wednesday showed a suspect with his lower face covered by such a mask.)

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If the hostel worker was intrigued by this unknown man, then so were many others who got a better look at him. Some drew comparisons to Hollywood leading men, including Jake Gyllenhaal, whose name was in “Competition Saga,” another quipped, referring to a chaotic and illicit New York event that brought together Chalamet lookalikes in late October.) Quite a few were pretty blunt In their assessment of the suspect’s appearance, one viral that the shooter is hot and has a killer smile.”

Although the manhunt for the shooter continues and police have neither named a suspect nor charged anyone with Thompson’s murder, this latest remark shows that some commentators have begun to link that face to the crime – and condone both. As one unabashed admirer put it on Suspect assessed: “He’s a planner, he takes initiative, he always makes sure the work gets done, he takes care of himself, should I continue?” A comment on the same thread with more than 5,000 likes was: “He is FIIIIINE. And an American hero? Thank you for your service, King.”

While it is also currently impossible to confirm a motive for the killing, ideas are circulating on social media that it was revenge for UnitedHealthcare’s denial of health insurance to a patient. This speculation was fueled by comments from Thompson’s wife, Paulette Thompson, who suggested to the press that he had received threats to that effect – and reports that the words “deny” were printed on bullet casings at the scene of the shooting. defend” and “depose”. A common theory is that this should reflect the so-called “three Ds” of business insurance claims processing practice: “Delay, Deny, Defend.”

The surge in online support surrounding the mysterious shooter and lead figure in the investigation creates a strange contrast with the NYPD’s offer of a $10,000 reward for information leading to the perpetrator’s arrest. It’s not often that people publicly offer a suspected murderer safe haven in their own homes while authorities try to lure them in, create fan art of his violent act and declare him a folk hero. If nothing else, it is a sign of the anger about inequality and disadvantage that is simmering – and sometimes boiling over – among the American population today.

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