This week, Google took action to delete negative reviews directed at a McDonald’s location after a suspect in the murder of UnitedHealth executive Brian Thompson was arrested at the restaurant in Altoona, Pennsylvania.

A representative from Google informed Reuters that the inappropriate negative reviews violated their guidelines and were removed on Monday. Some reviews referencing the arrest, however, remained online, garnering hundreds of likes as of Tuesday morning.

The negative feedback surged following the arrest of 26-year-old Luigi Mangione, who was apprehended on Monday at the Altoona McDonald’s after being on the run for several days. Pennsylvania State Police reported that a customer recognized him while he was dining and alerted a staff member at the restaurant.

Numerous Google reviews began circulating online, with many individuals criticizing the restaurant for people “snitching” on the suspect, leading to one-star ratings and praising Mangione for his actions.

YSL News has contacted Google for further comments.

Many reviews echoed sentiments found on social media, where users expressed a lack of sympathy for Thompson’s death, often resorting to mockery and memes. Such responses have been observed in previous high-profile events, like the assassination attempts on Donald Trump and the Titan submersible tragedy.

“In situations like these, it’s a natural response to categorize our understanding of the event to find comfort and security,” stated Laura Petiford, a licensed marriage and family therapist, to YSL News. “Believing that the individual deserved their fate allows us to distance ourselves, creating a sense of psychological safety.”

Petiford elaborated that blaming one person for the numerous issues within the healthcare sector is similar to placing the entirety of societal challenges solely on immigrants.

“It’s possible to hold two contradictory thoughts simultaneously,” explained Amy Morin, a psychotherapist, author, and podcast host, in a previous discussion with YSL News. “For instance, you might think, ‘This is tragic, and I hope it drives change,’ while also feeling, ‘It’s unfortunate someone lost their life and that this highlights the flaws in the insurance system.’

‘Review bomb’ hits McDonald’s following arrest in Altoona

The influx of negative comments is referred to as “review bombing,” where businesses face a surge of bad ratings driven by political opinions or an event unrelated to their operations.

Mangione was arrested and charged on Monday evening with murder and other serious crimes related to Thompson’s shooting death in New York City.

Upon his arrest at McDonald’s, authorities reported discovering a 3D-printed gun and a silencer in Mangione’s backpack. Officers recognized him as they responded to a call from a restaurant employee who identified him from widely circulated law enforcement photographs after he removed his mask at their request.

A criminal complaint filed by the police in Altoona also accused Mangione of forgery, tampering with records, providing false identification to police, and possession of criminal tools. He was arraigned and denied bail on Tuesday.

‘Our family is in disbelief’

Nino Mangione, a delegate from Maryland, is the cousin of Luigi Mangione, as reported by WBAL-TV. He shared a message on social media on behalf of the family following the arrest on Monday night:

“We are only aware of what has been reported in the media,” Nino Mangione expressed on X. “Our family is in disbelief and heartbroken by Luigi’s arrest. We extend our prayers to Brian Thompson’s family and urge everyone to pray for all those involved.”

This statement was released by the Baltimore-area family before New York City prosecutors officially charged Mangione with murder. The 26-year-old is currently detained in Pennsylvania but is likely to be extradited to New York.