An Altoona, Pennsylvania McDonald’s is facing intense backlash after an employee’s tip helped authorities apprehend Luigi Mangione, the suspect in the high-profile murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. The arrest has triggered a wave of negative online reviews from supporters of the alleged killer, prompting Google to step in and remove the fake reviews.
Mangione, 26, was arrested in Altoona after a McDonald’s employee alerted law enforcement to a customer in possession of a weapon and writings connecting him to Thompson’s murder in Manhattan. The tip led to his capture, but it also unleashed a storm of politically charged reviews targeting several McDonald’s locations in the area.
Google confirmed the removal of the fake reviews, stating, “These reviews violate our policies and have been removed.” The company’s policy mandates that reviews must reflect “a genuine experience” and prohibits content designed to manipulate ratings.
Many of the deleted reviews were filled with inflammatory rhetoric. One review claimed, “This fast food restaurant houses a traitor among its employees. The working class has betrayed humanity.” Another mocked the chain’s food and health implications, saying, “Very large rat behind the counter. Not very nutritional food. Hope they have health insurance to cover future heart attacks. Oh wait.”
Some reviewers even accused the staff of being “class traitors” for cooperating with law enforcement. “The staff accused me of assassinating a CEO. Incredibly unprofessional and class-traitor staff,” read another post.
The motive behind the murder remains unclear, but the incident has highlighted widespread frustration with health insurance companies accused of prioritizing profits over patient care. While some online voices have turned Mangione into a folk hero, others have condemned the glorification of violence, reminding the public of the tragic loss suffered by Thompson’s family.
Mangione, a University of Pennsylvania graduate, is scheduled for a court hearing in Blair County on a weapons charge tied to a ghost gun found during his arrest. The McDonald’s employee who provided the crucial tip may be eligible for a $50,000 FBI reward for information leading to the arrest.
This backlash mirrors the reaction faced by workers at an Upper West Side hostel where Mangione reportedly stayed. Staff there were labeled “narcs” for cooperating with police.
As tensions flare over the case, the incident underscores the divide in public opinion, where some applaud law enforcement’s efforts and others rally behind those targeting corporate elites.
