The recent fatal shooting in October of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson has sparked a nationwide conversation about healthcare, gun violence and societal division. The incident, allegedly carried out by 26 year old Luigi Mangione, a man reportedly struggling with chronic health issues, has captured significant attention due to the prominence of the victim and the unprecedented outpouring of support for the shooter on social media. While his exact motive remains unclear, the killing of such a high profile figure has ignited debates on both the accessibility of healthcare and the ethical implications of responding to systemic issues with violence.
Reactions to the incident varied widely nationally and within the Lincoln community. Bryce Montoya, a senior, admitted she was initially confused about why Mangione targeted Thompson.
“I was shocked. At first, I didn’t quite understand what was happening, but when my mom explained the issues with the healthcare system, I thought it [the shooting] made quite a statement,” said Montoya.
Senior Harper Adatto described her immediate response as one of sadness.
“I got a news notification on my phone, and I felt sad for the victim’s family,” said Adatto.
Senior Sloane Holstrom had a more direct encounter with the incident.
“I was in New York and the road where [the shooting] happened was shut down. I asked my friend’s dad what was going on, and he told me it was because of the shooting,” said Holstrom.
For many, the shooting has put a spotlight on societal problems within the healthcare industry.
“The shooter appeared to have chronic health care issues, and so it brought up the issue of how our insurance providers treat Americans,” said Montoya.
Holstrom echoed this sentiment.
“It reflects issues in the healthcare system. My mom works in healthcare and sees the flaws every day,” said Holstrom.
Adatto, however, focused on gun violence as the broader issue.
“[The shooting] reflects general gun violence,” said Adatto. “I read how there were over 500 mass shootings in the US last year [2024].”
The response to the shooting has also been divisive, with some online discussions expressing sympathy for Mangione’s frustrations with the healthcare system, while others condemned the violence outright.
“I’m not very opinionated about this, as it is very complicated,” said Montoya. “What occurred is clearly very wrong, but it brought more attention to this issue.”
Adatto and Holstrom, however, took more opinionated stances against the shooting.
“I don’t believe violence is the answer,” Adatto said. “There are better ways to create change, and no one deserves to die.”
Holstrom agreed, while acknowledging the impact of the tragedy.
“[Brian Thompson] doesn’t deserve to be shot, but it definitely caused awareness despite the sad way [the shooting] happened.” said Holstrom.
While opinions on the broader implications of the shooting differ, the overarching sentiment is one of sadness and urgency for change.
“It’s overall very sad,” Adatto said. “A family lost a loved one, and the issues that caused this pain are still a long way from being solved.”