Before modification by damookster at 10/12/2024 05:57:55 PM
Absolutely. Taylor Lorenz stated she felt joy when she heard the CEO was killed. “And people wonder why we want these executives dead,”she said.
Here's a quote from WaPo: "While it’s unclear how much of the 'Deny, Defend, Depose' merchandise was purchased, its spread across online storefronts echoes the swell of anger at health insurance companies and support for the shooter on social media."
As for Penny, from the little I've read about the case, I don't think that he's a murderer, nor that he should've been sentenced to a long prison sentence necessarily, but the 'criminally negligent homicide' charge does seem to fit. Intervening and restraining Neely when he threatened other passengers may have been an act of good citizenship, but when Penny kept up the chokehold for several minutes, he should've known there was a risk of causing serious injury or even death.
Per the medical examiner, Neely was still breathing when help arrived and passed away later from contributing factors. Neely was on the list of 50 most unstable NYC homeless persons and had multiple arrests for assault, including an outstanding warrant at the time of the incident. Other passengers had already called 911, helped Penny restrain Neely, and testified they were in fear of their lives.
Hence, the deserved acquittal.