A Michigan man probably stabbed the president of the company he worked for in the middle of a meeting in a possible “copycat” attack mirroring the assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
Erik Denslow, head of the production company Anderson Express Inc. in Muskegon, was stabbed Tuesday during a staff meeting, Fruitport Township police said in a statement.
“We have not ruled out a copycat motive in this,” Deputy Police Chief Greg Poulson told News 8 on Wednesday. “I think this is on everyone’s mind at this time.”
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Nathan Mahoney, 32, in jail. Mahoney is accused of stabbing the boss of the company he worked for during an employee meeting. (Credit: WXMI)
Denslow underwent surgery and remains in serious but stable condition, police said.
The suspect, identified as Nathan Mahoney, 32, was at the staff meeting around 9:20 a.m. when he got up and left. He returned 10 minutes later, walked up to Denslow and allegedly stabbed him in the side, the news station reported.
Mahoney fled in his vehicle but was stopped by police and arrested 15 minutes later, police said. He had only been working for the company for a few weeks.
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Colleagues describe the suspect as having a calm demeanor. Investigators have not determined a motive for the attack. However, they did not rule out a possible copycat attack.
“We are searching all of his social accounts and all of his electronic media and trying to determine a motive for this act,” Poulson said.
Anderson Express in Muskegon, Michigan. (Credit: WXMI)
Denslow joined the company in January 2022 as vice president and general manager, according to his LinkedIn profile. Within a year he was promoted to president.
Anderson Express is cooperating the automobile and defense sectors. Fox News Digital has contacted the company. In a statement to Fox 17, the company said it was still in shock over the incident.
“Our first thoughts go out to our president, who has a good prognosis for a full and speedy recovery,” the statement said. “We are also focused on supporting our employees in dealing with this senseless attack.
Manhoney was charged with assault with intent to murder and fleeing. He is being held in the Muskegon County Jail on a $501,000 bond.
Luigi Mangione, 26, is charged with first-degree murder in New York in the December 4 execution of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. (David Dee Delagado for Fox News Digital/Businesswire)
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The incident bore similarities to the December 4 murder of Thompson, who was shot in New York City. The suspected shooter Luigi Mangionewas extradited from Pennsylvania to New York on Thursday.
