A Michigan man has been arrested for allegedly stabbing the president of his company on Tuesday, in what police believe could be a possible "copycat" attempt of the UnitedHealthcare CEO execution. Nathan Mahoney, 32, of Walker, was arraigned Wednesday on charges of assault with intent to murder and eluding a police officer. He is being held on a $500,000 bond, jail records show.
According to court documents, Mahoney walked into a conference room during a meeting at Anderson Express Inc. and allegedly stabbed Erik Denslow, the president of the manufacturing company, in the side with a "red-handled" knife. Denslow was transported to the hospital in critical condition, but is expected to recover, Fox 17 reported
Mahoney fled the scene and was arrested less than an hour later by Muskegon County deputies in a Ravenna backyard, court documents show.
Police are not ruling out the potential that this was a "copycat" of the December 4 killing of UnitedHealthcare CEP Brian Thompson, 50, in Manhattan. Deputy Police Chief Greg Poulson told News 8: "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."
"It seems to be the popular thing in this day and age," Poulson said.
Matt Roberts, a Muskegon County prosecutor, told Fox 17 that multiple employees witnessed the stabbing, and that this was "certainly by no means a case of 'whodunit'." Roberts said that Mahoney was hired to work in the accounting department of Anderson Express Inc. a few weeks prior.
"We're not speculating on any motive in this case," the prosecutor said. "But despite whatever redress you might have against any individual, you cannot act violently against that person under any circumstances." Mahoney's next court appearance is scheduled for Dec. 26.
