New Yorkers gathered in Washington Square Park to participate in a tasteless shooter look-a-like contest, in a mocking celebration of the recent assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. The bizarre event featured eight contestants dressed in hooded outerwear and face masks, with onlookers cheering for their favorite contestant.
The winner, who closely resembled the cold-blooded assassin, shared that he had decided to participate in the contest after hearing about it that morning. Sporting a green jacket and face covering, he attracted attention from the crowd and ultimately took home a prize of $50. Despite not being a UnitedHealthcare customer, he revealed that he had experienced his own challenges with health insurance companies covering his medications.
The contest took place amidst a frantic manhunt for the killer, who gunned down Thompson outside a Midtown hotel in broad daylight. The assassin fled the scene and evaded authorities by speeding through Central Park on a bike before leaving the city on a bus. Despite the ongoing search, Mayor Eric Adams confirmed that the police have identified the shooter and assured the public that the net is tightening.
In a peculiar twist, one contestant at the event was seen firing a bubble gun while wearing a handwritten sign that read “Deny Defend Depose” – the same words scribbled on the shell casings left at the crime scene. The unsympathetic response to the CEO’s assassination reflects a sentiment of discontent among the public towards the current state of affairs.
As the contest concluded, with a K-pop group dancing in the background, the winner reflected on the event and the unusual circumstances that led to his victory. Despite the controversial nature of the competition, it served as a reminder of the complex emotions and reactions sparked by a high-profile tragedy.
Overall, the event in Washington Square Park captured the blend of dark humor and social commentary that often emerges in the aftermath of shocking events. The contestants, the onlookers, and the winner himself embodied a mix of defiance, curiosity, and perhaps a touch of morbid fascination in their participation in the tasteless contest.
