Shane Daly, 40, was arrested on August 13th and charged with cyberstalking, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Uncovering false claims about the shooting of UnitedHealthCare CEO
The death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson has spurred false claims about the public’s response and the company’s response.
The New York man said he was accused of stalking and harassing the family of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson and sent a threatening voicemail several hours after the fatal shooting in midtown Manhattan last year.
Shane Daly, 40, was arrested on August 13th and charged with cyberstalking, according to the U.S. Lawyer’s Office for the Upstate District of New York. The criminal charges allege that Daley made multiple calls to Thompson’s family between December 4th and December 7th, 2024, just hours after Thompson was shot outside the hotel.
Prosecutors said Daly left a series of voicemails where he used “threatening and harassing language” that concentrated on Thompson’s murder. He also said the family and Thompson children “deserve to meet the same violent end,” according to criminal charges.
Daily, in Galway, New York, a rural community about 37 miles northwest of Albany, was scheduled to be arrested on the afternoon of August 13th, prosecutors said. Cyberstalking claims include a maximum prison term of up to five years, a fine of up to $250,000 and a supervised release of up to three years, the U.S. Attorneys’ Office said.
“Shane Daly is said to have repeatedly reluctantly reluctant to the sadistic family of Brian Thompson, CEO of United Healthcare, who was shot in New York City,” Christopher Leia, assistant director of the New York field office, said in a statement. “The repeated calls and messages over the days following Brian Thompson’s murder were more than merciless and calm harassment. They were threatening and terrified of their already suffering families after the violent death of their loved ones.”
What happened with Brian Thompson filming?
Thompson, 50, was filmed on December 4, 2024 outside Hilton Midtown, New York, around 6:45am local time, authorities said. He was scheduled to speak at the United Health Group’s annual meeting for analysts and investors.
Thompson was walking alone towards the hotel when the gunman approached him from behind and shot him in the back, authorities said. New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tish said earlier that the suspect seemed to “wait” for a few minutes as others walked.
Surveillance footage showed that when Thompson appeared, the gunman stepped behind him and fired from close range. The suspect’s gun appeared to be jammed, but he was still able to continue firing, authorities said.
The gunman then fled across the street, where he was captured by a city surveillance camera riding a bike to nearby Central Park, before leaving town from a bus stop near George Washington Bridge.
The suspect was later identified as 27-year-old Luigi Mangione and was arrested on December 9, 2024, following a massive manhunt in Pennsylvania. According to a complaint filed in federal court, the work found in Mangion’s possession revealed that he expressed “hospitality, particularly towards the health insurance industry and wealthy executives.”
In April, the Federal Jury charged Mangion with four counts of charges, including two stalking for firearms, a crime of weapons and murder. He is also facing murder and terrorist charges in New York State, possession of a gun and other charges in Pennsylvania.
Mangion pleaded not guilty to federal and state charges.
Who was Brian Thompson?
Thompson lives in Maple Grove, Minnesota and has been CEO of UnitedHealthcare, one of the largest insurance providers in the United States since April 2021. He joined the company in 2004 and worked in various departments.
According to his LinkedIn page, Thompson graduated from the University of Iowa in 1997 with a degree in Business Administration and Accounting. He was survived by his two sons and wife Paulette Thompson in 2024, whom he told NBC that his husband had previously been subject to threats related to his work.
Murders attract broad attention
The shooting has increased security measures and unleashed vitriol, a social media outlet aimed at the US health insurance industry. After Thompson’s death, the company has evaluated security measures, cancelled in-person events and announced that it had removed executive biographies and photos from its website.
The incident sparked a light empty voice against health insurance companies, and people on social media shared their complaints about rejected claims and complaints about perceived greed in the industry. Shortly after filming, the video posted online appeared to show a New York “Wanted” poster with the names and faces of other corporate executives.
On April 14, police arrested an armed man outside the headquarters of United Healthcare in Minnesota. He later surrendered to law enforcement and was taken into custody.
In February, Florida prosecutors dropped accusations against a woman who used the words “delay, denial, resignation” to threaten an insurance company.
The murders have attracted widespread attention, and Mangion has received support from a growing fanbase, including handwritten heart-shaped notes and donations for his legal defense. A fund intended to help Mangion pay legal fees, which received more than $1.2 million.
Contributors: Christopher Kang, Bailey Schultz, Nick Penzenstadler, Ken Alltucker, Janeine Sanchuch, and N’Dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today; Reuters
