Overview
- Jerry Murrell told Fortune he sent $1,000 to about 1,500 Five Guys locations, a total of roughly $1.5 million, after the promotion went off the rails.
- He said he "didn't want anybody shooting me in the back," a dark joke widely read as a nod to the 2024 killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
- The original buy-one-get-one offer on February 17th crashed the app, created long lines, and left some restaurants out of product.
- Five Guys apologized on February 18th and ran a four-day "40th After Party" redo starting March 9th to honor the deal.
- Prosecutors still pursue the Thompson case as a U.S. judge in January tossed a federal firearm-murder count and defense lawyers seek to push trial dates.