MSM reacts to memecoin created for "DENY, DEFEND, DEPOSE"

Link to article: https://www.newsweek.com/brian-thompsons-killer-becomes-focus-deny-defend-depose-crypto-1995931

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A new memecoin has launched called "Deny. Defend. Depose," words that were reportedly found inscribed on three bullet casings found at the scene of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson's murder in midtown Manhattan on Wednesday.

According to crypto trading website Dexscreener, the new coin was created shortly before midnight EST on December 4, with a photograph of the man police are searching for in relation to Thompson's shooting as its profile picture.

Thompson was gunned down shortly before 7 a.m. on Wednesday by the Hilton Midtown in what the New York Police Department (NYPD) said was likely to have been "a premeditated, preplanned, targeted attack." First responders rushed the CEO to Mount Sinai West hospital after the attack, where he was pronounced dead at 7:12 a.m. ET. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said Thompson was shot in both the back and right calf during the assault.

The Dexscreener exchange shows that as of 5:45 a.m. ET on Thursday 802 people held "Deny. Defend. Depose" coins, which were valued at $0.0479 each, with a total market cap of $79,000.

Memecoins are a form of cryptocurrency that are typically created as a joke or prank, in contrast to more serious online currencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum. However, on occasion memecoins can pick up significant value as was the case with Dogecoin, which was promoted by celebrities including Elon Musk and Snoop Dogg.

The new currency was created shortly after ABC News reported three shell casings bearing the words "deny," "defend" and "depose" had been recovered from the murder scene by police. The network cited "police sources" and Newsweek contacted Dexscreener and the NYPD for comment by email and telephone respectively on Thursday outside of regular office hours.

A surveillance photograph released by the New York Police Department shows the individual suspected of shooting Brian Thompson. The same image, with the letters “DDD” and “DENY. DEFEND. DEPOSE” superimposed over it was used as...NYPD

A number of social media users have questioned whether the words reported on the shell casings are referencing a book published by Professor Jay M. Feinman, an insurance law expert who used to teach at Rutgers Law School, titled Delay, Deny, Defend: Why Insurance Companies Don't Pay Claim and What You Can Do About It.

The book argues some companies in the insurance industry have been actively denying legitimate claims. Newsweek is not able to confirm any link between the words that were reportedly on the shell casings and the book. Feinman declined to comment when contacted by Newsweek on Thursday morning.

On Dexscreener "Deny. Defend. Depose" has as its profile picture an image of the suspected attacker, wearing a hood and mask, released by the NYPD. The letters "DDD" and words "DENY. DEFEND. DEPOSE" are superimposed over the image.

An X link embedded in the profile links to an ABC News story reporting the words "deny," "defend" and "depose" had been found on three bullet cases at the murder scene.

Surveillance footage acquired by CNN showed a gunman shooting Thompson several times from behind on the sidewalk after stepping out from behind a parked car.

According to police the assailant then mounted an e-bike and rode to Central Park, which has limited surveillance camera coverage.

Police have offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in the case.

Speaking to reporters, Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said: "The motive for this murder is currently unknown, but based on the evidence we have so far, it does appear the victim was specifically targeted. But at this point, we do not know why."

Update 12/5/24 8:30 a.m. ET: This story has been updated to note Professor Jay M. Feinman declined to comment.