With the arrest of a suspect in the killing of a health insurance executive, newsrooms are entering into that frenzied period of competitive reporting where every little nugget of information takes on an outsized significance.

The danger with the case of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson is that the facts that journalists share will contribute to the glorification of a crime, which in turn could lead to copycat behavior and perpetuate false or distorted information.

News organizations have a complex and nuanced role covering this story. They must document this moment where the public is loudly cheering for the man behind a brazen crime by probing the roots of the sentiment as vigorously as they pursue the facts of the case.

Given the intense public sympathy for this suspect, here are some early details reporters should be careful about.

Note that it’s probably not a manifesto

Police recovered a document that anonymous sources are describing as a manifesto. It might be a screed, or an essay, or a journal. It could be a very well-written rationale for doing something despicable. But don’t call it a manifesto. It confers too much credibility on a document that nobody other than police have seen.

And if you do get your hands on it and are considering publishing some or all of it, identify a clear journalistic purpose first. What public good comes from this?

Define ghost guns and explore regulation

If the weapon turns out to be a ghost gun, i.e. a homemade firearm made via 3D printing, be accurate about the regulations that apply to such weapons. Brady, a nonprofit organization that advocates for gun control and against gun violence, is a good resource. So is the NSSF, a trade association for the firearm industry, which says that the very term “ghost guns” is evidence of media bias, meant to scare news consumers.

It’s impossible to get away from the phrase “ghost guns” because law enforcement and politicians are saying it a lot. But the controversy over it should prompt journalists to always explain what the term means, quote the officials who are saying it, and minimize the use of the phrase when possible.

Watch out for unchecked police narratives

Moments like this are public relations bonanzas for law enforcement. They get to tell a story about how they tracked down the bad guy.

When possible, verify details that police release with additional documentation or sources. Police can be guilty of confirmation bias and, as a result, sometimes distort information or get the facts wrong. When information from the cops can’t be independently verified, be sure to attribute it to the specific individual who is releasing it and tell the public how that person knows.

Law enforcement sources often want to remain anonymous and journalists are sometimes too willing to allow it in the name of a scoop. Press sources, especially public information officers and department heads, on why their names should not be attached to information they are releasing, in addition to how they know what they know. Then share those details with your audience.

Don’t further the crusader narrative

The public has conflated this killing with the need for a crusade against the unchecked power and lack of accountability of health insurance companies. As details surface about the man’s background, irresponsible journalists will hang entire stories on information that has zero corroboration and context. These stories will be sensational and widely repeated.

Responsible newsrooms will limit their stories to information their own reporters have confirmed, and that can be attributed to reliable, named sources. Many people are going to come out of the woodwork with information about the suspect. Verify everything with more than one source.

And finally, there are probably more than enough reporters chasing details on this suspect, his capture and his history. Instead:

Report more on the health insurance industry

While there is no shortage of stories about frustrating bills and denials of care, there’s clearly public demand for a deeper systemic documentation of health insurance company profits. Because health care is delivered locally, every single newsroom could produce explanatory and investigative journalism on this topic. If it’s good work, the public will consume it.

Better crime reporting is good for your audience and your newsroom

Newsrooms around the country have figured out that sensational crime reporting impedes solutions-oriented public safety journalism and undercuts the relationship with the audience. We’re accepting applications for our 2025 course that guides local newsrooms to a healthier approach to crime reporting.

Former Poynter faculty member Al Tompkins contributed to this report