Cheap clothing e-commerce website Shein's clever move? The suspect in the assassination of the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, Luigi Mangione, surprisingly becomes a fashion male model!

The inexpensive fashion brand Shein has once again found the key to traffic, with the handsome and tall suspect Luigi Mangione becoming the platform's male model! According to E News, a photo of a male model resembling Luigi Mangione (the 27-year-old suspect accused of murdering United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson) unexpectedly appeared in the men's shirt catalog on the Shein website, sparking a wave of public outcry online. Shein promptly deleted the photo and initiated an internal investigation, later claiming that the image was provided by a third-party vendor. But was this an error, or is the platform engaging in outrageous tactics for traffic? Shein's dark history continues, and this time even a murder suspect can be exploited?

A Review of the Background of the Murder Case of the CEO of UnitedHealth Insurance

On December 4, 2024, outside the bustling Hilton Hotel in Midtown Manhattan, Brian Thompson was shot and killed by a gunman while preparing to attend the investor meeting of United Healthcare Group. Police found shell casings inscribed with the words “delay, deny, depose,” directly pointing to dissatisfaction and mockery of the American health insurance industry. On December 9, an employee at a McDonald's in Altoona, Pennsylvania, recognized a diner, Luigi Mangione, as the suspect. The police then promptly arrested the suspect, who was carrying a 3D-printed handgun, a silencer, a fake ID, and a notebook.

On April 1 of this year, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that Luigi Magione would be sentenced to death, citing that "this is a premeditated cold-blooded assassination, and Luigi Mangione hoped to provoke public outrage against the healthcare industry in the United States. Due to the frequent loopholes in the American healthcare system, public grievances have long persisted, and Luigi, who assassinated the CEO of United Healthcare, has ironically become a symbol of heroism, with multiple grassroots groups forming to defend his actions. On April 25, when the federal court officially convened, Mangione pleaded not guilty to charges of murder, gun possession, and stalking. Judge Margaret Garnett requested both the prosecution and defense to avoid public commentary to maintain a fair trial.

At the end of August to early September 2025, prosecutors pointed out in documents from the federal court in Manhattan that Mangione's actions had contributed to the so-called “copycat effect of political violence,” including a subsequent shooting incident at the NFL headquarters (carried out by another shooter who mimicked his declaration and methods). The prosecutors emphasized that pursuing the death penalty would help deter imitators.

Shein controversy continues

Shein has faced continuous controversies in the past, having been pointed out multiple times for using “low-value clearance” methods to evade tariffs. According to past CNBC reports, Shein utilizes the “deminimis” provision in Section 321 of the 1930 “Tariff Act” to avoid import duties and customs inspections. Reports estimate that Shein clears over 30% of low-priced small packages daily, delivering them to American consumers without being taxed through tariff exemption laws. Shein has also been involved in multiple design infringement lawsuits, with Uniqlo once accusing Shein of copying the half-moon bag, which is a popular item from Uniqlo.

Driven by speed and cost, any traffic is good traffic, even negative news. As long as it is controversial enough, it can immediately occupy the news headlines. Although Shein strongly denies that the platform used the photos of the suspect in the murder case of the CEO of the Joint Commission of Health Insurance, shifting all the blame to third parties, it seems unable to convince the media and the public.

This article discusses the budget clothing e-commerce site Shein's clever move? The suspect in the assassination of the CEO of United Healthcare, Luigi Mangione, surprisingly becomes a fashion male model! It first appeared in Chain News ABMedia.