Employee ‘stabs boss’ in possible copycat attack after Luigi Mangione’s alleged murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO

Police are investigating whether the stabbing of a boss during a morning staff meeting in Michigan was a copycat attack inspired by the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

Officers from the Fruitport Township Police Department were called to Anderson Express Inc in Muskegon at 9.30am on December 17 after reports of a stabbing.

Police allege company president Erik Denslow was holding a meeting attended by about eight to 10 staff members when he was stabbed in the side with a knife by employee Nathan Mahoney.

During the meeting Mr Mahoney suddenly got up and left the room for about 10 minutes before returning and approaching Mr Denslow and allegedly stabbing him, according to local news outlets.

Police say Mr Mahoney, 32, fled the business in his car. He was arrested about 15 minutes later.

“Fellow employees described the suspect as having a quiet demeanour and a motive for the stabbing has not been established at this time.” a police statement on the incident read.

Mr Denslow is in a serious but stable condition in hospital and is expected to survive.

Police have said they are not ruling out the possibility it was a copycat attack of that allegedly carried out by Luigi Mangione on Mr Thompson in New York on December 4.

“I think that comes to everyone’s mind in this time. We’re going through all his social accounts, all his electronic media and trying to determine a motive for this act,” Deputy Chief Greg Poulson told News 8.

Mr Mangione is accused of fatally shooting Mr Thompson in the back outside a Manhattan hotel. He was eventually arrested in a Pennsylvania McDonald’s restaurant after a days-long manhunt.

Since Mr Thompson’s brutal death, Mr Mangione has been celebrated online after shell casings with the words “deny”, “defend” and “depose” were found near the body, suggesting the killer was motivated by anger over corporatised healthcare.

According to his LinkedIn profile, Mr Denslow was appointed president of the component engineering company less than two years ago.

In a statement released to local media, company spokesperson Mary Ann Sabo said: “We are also focused on supporting our employees as they process this senseless assault.

“We appreciate the swift actions of local law enforcement and will continue to cooperate with their investigation, which is ongoing at this time.”

Mr Mahoney has been charged with assault with intent to murder and fleeing a police officer.