Opening his ‘Weekend Update’ segment, Colin Jost acknowledged the New York City authorities’ firm approach to crime, in light of an ongoing murder case where UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson became a casualty. In his distinctive comedic style, Jost stated, ‘If one decides to bring harm to another in the very center of the street, they must immediately ride their bicycle, board a bus and make their escape,’ providing his viewers with light-hearted commentary.
He went on to examine and deconstruct the public response following the tragic event, indicating an insight into the broader American societal perception. Commenting on the incident, Jost exclaimed, ‘A brutal homicide takes place and the major conclusions drawn are that ‘our healthcare system is flawed,’ and, peculiarly, ‘the offender is attractive”.
The search for the probable perpetrator continues in earnest, with reports suggesting that he managed to leave the crime scene on a bicycle. He was seen heading towards Central Park, followed by a surprising switch to a cab which took him to a Port Authority bus terminal.
Jessica Tisch, Commissioner of the New York City Police Department, revealed that the suspect possibly left the city via bus. The audacious nature of this crime, committed in clear daylight, continues to shock many, as does the brazen escape plan enacted by the criminal.
Jost was particularly taken aback by the notion of the crime happening just three blocks away from the filming location of ‘SNL’ – Studio 8H at 30 Rockefeller Plaza. Such a daring act, occurring in such close proximity, surely left an indelible impression on the host.
In a subsequent portion of the segment, Michael Che, Jost’s fellow host, pointed out another intriguing bit of information about the alleged offender. In an interaction that seemed somewhat playful with an employee at his hostel in New York, the suspect unmasked, exposing his face to the camera.