A poll found 41 percent of adults under 30 consider the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson acceptable, more than the 40 percent in that demographic who consider it unacceptable.
Anger over health insurance companies has been in the spotlight after Thompson was fatally shot Dec. 4 in New York City.
Luigi Mangione, a 26-year-old, was arrested last week in Pennsylvania and faces charges in Thompson’s killing.
The survey from Emerson College Polling found 68 percent of all respondents found the actions of the person who shot and killed Thompson unacceptable.
But a startling 24 percent of those aged 18-29 found it “somewhat acceptable,” and 17 percent of that group found it completely acceptable.
Since Thompson was shot, first in the back and then again as he fell to the ground, a number of social media posts from people saying they do sympathy for his death have gained popularity.
Spencer Kimball, the executive director of Emerson College Polling, said 22 percent of Democrats said they found the killing acceptable, compared to 16 percent of independents and 12 percent of Republicans. He said the overall findings underscored “shifting societal attitudes among the youngest electorate and within party lines.”
Mangione was arrested Dec. 9 in Altoona, Pa., following a tip from a McDonald’s employee. Law enforcement has not publicly disclosed his suspected motive, if one is known, though a manifesto reported to be found on Mangione when he was arrested has been published by some journalists.
Mangione is slated to be appear in court in Pennsylvania on Thursday for gun charges he faces in the state. Another proceeding will take place Dec. 30; New York is attempting to extradite the Maryland native to the Empire State, where he faces a murder charge, according to court records.
The survey was conducted Dec. 11-13 among 1,000 registered voters. The margin of error was 3 percentage points.
