'The View' co-host Sara Haines calls out people's 'gleeful' reactions to UnitedHealthcare CEO's shooting

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Sara Haines stated that it was "disturbing" to see people rejoicing at the murder of the CEO of UnitedHealthcare Brian Thompson, while discussing the primary suspect along with her co-host on the Tuesday, December 10 episode of 'The View.'

Thompson was gunned down in the streets of Manhattan on December 4. On Monday, police arrested Luigi Mangione as a suspect in the killing, from a McDonald's outlet in Altoona Pennsylvania.

According to CNN, he has been charged with one count of second-degree murder, two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, one count of second-degree possession of a forged document, and one count of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, online court documents show.

Sara Haines' opinion on shooter and public's reaction to shooting

Sara Haines was disappointed that a man who was blessed with all material privileges chose to take a person's life rather than seeking change differently. Earlier in the show, her co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin had shared that Mangione belonged to an affluent family, and received an Ivy League education.

Drawing from Griffin's observation, Haines said, "I think that there is a shock in finding out who it is, just because this man could have changed things in this world."

"He had every privilege that could be given to someone ever, he came from a wealthy family — highly educated, valedictorian of his class, all the things were there. He’s a very smart person, and yet this is the option he chose, rather than going into a system and truly changing the ills and problems," she noted.

At the same time, Haines brought up how some people appeared joyful at the death of the CEO, and strongly condemned such behavior.

"I think there’s so many massive problems with the insurance companies that is clear, and we all know it. It is almost like a criminal racket. This is never the answer to that," she stated.

"He may be a millionaire. You may hate people with money… You have to reflect on yourself if you at any point were gleeful about this because it is so disturbing to see the residual effect of how many people applauded this person as if this is how we live in this country or in this world, it is unacceptable.”

'The View' co-hosts share their take on UnitedHealthcare CEO's shooting

Reacting to the details that have been made public about the suspect so far, Griffin said on the show, "I think it’s a reminder that criminals or people who do harm don’t fit into any one box. I think we’re so quick to stereotype people. You expect a certain socioeconomic level or a certain educational background.”

“To me, it symbolizes more likely there was some kind of a mental health break and that he may have acted in an extreme way because he wasn’t treating something that came on suddenly. That’s my speculation," she added.

Joy Behar, on the other hand, slammed public officials who attempted to politicize the issue and the easy availability of "ghost" guns in the United States.

"What type of country are we living in that some nut case can get a gun that has no serial number that he can make the same way that he can text me? Come on,” she exclaimed, to which Sunny Hostin added, "They’re linked to nearly 700 homicides since between 2016 and 2021. That’s a tenfold increase. And the Supreme Court is looking at whether or not it is considered a firearm. Of course it is."