Luigi Mangione charged with murdering healthcare CEO in New York

Luigi Mangione, a 26-year-old man, has been charged with the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, who was fatally shot last Wednesday outside a hotel in Midtown Manhattan. The shooting occurred while UnitedHealthcare was holding an investors’ meeting, and Thompson, 50, was targeted in what authorities have described as a pre-planned killing. Mangione was arrested on Monday in Altoona, Pennsylvania, after a customer at a McDonald’s recognized him from media coverage of the case.

Mangione, an Ivy League graduate from a prominent Maryland family, was found in possession of a firearm and a handwritten document that suggested he had a particular “motivation and mindset” for the crime, according to police. After being detained, Mangione was arraigned in Pennsylvania on five initial charges, including firearm possession, forgery, and providing false identification. He was denied bail. Later, investigators in New York filed additional charges, including murder and several firearms offenses.

Thompson’s shooting set off a massive manhunt across New York City. Authorities utilized one of the world’s largest digital surveillance systems, police dogs, drones, and even searched a Central Park lake in an attempt to track down the killer. The discovery of Mangione’s identity was a surprise to investigators, as he was not on their initial list of suspects. The break in the case came when a McDonald’s customer in Altoona, Pennsylvania, recognized Mangione from the media and alerted a staff member, who then contacted law enforcement.

When police arrived at the McDonald’s, Mangione was found with a fake New Jersey driver’s license, which he initially presented under the name “Mark Rosario.” Upon being questioned about his recent travels to New York, Mangione appeared nervous and eventually admitted his true identity after officers warned him about the consequences of lying. Police also discovered a “ghost gun” in his backpack—likely a 3D-printed weapon—along with a loaded magazine containing six rounds of 9mm ammunition. In addition, Mangione was carrying a U.S. passport and $10,000 in cash, some of which was in foreign currency, although he disputed the amount in court.

Investigators also found a three-page handwritten document that suggested Mangione harbored negative feelings toward corporate America. Additionally, police discovered that the words “deny,” “defend,” and “depose” were written on shell casings found at the scene of Thompson’s murder. Authorities believe these words may reference tactics commonly used by insurance companies to reject claims, a practice some critics refer to as the “three Ds of insurance.”

Police later confirmed that the weapon and suppressor seized from Mangione were consistent with those used in the murder. Mangione now faces extradition to New York, where he will either waive or contest the extradition process. If he waives it, he could be handed over to New York authorities immediately; if he contests it, the process could take up to 45 days.

Mangione’s family expressed shock and devastation following his arrest. In a statement shared on social media by his cousin, Maryland state legislator Nino Mangione, the family offered their prayers to Thompson’s family and asked for prayers for all involved. Luigi Mangione had a notable academic background, graduating as valedictorian from a private all-boys school in Maryland. He went on to attend the University of Pennsylvania, an Ivy League institution, before working as a data engineer in California. His LinkedIn account revealed that he had been employed at TrueCar, an online vehicle marketplace, but left the company in 2023.

At the time of his arrest, Mangione’s last known address was in Honolulu, Hawaii. Social media posts linked to Mangione suggested that friends had been trying to contact him for months, with one individual noting that they hadn’t heard from him in October. The circumstances surrounding his actions and motivations remain unclear, and investigators are continuing to examine the details of his background and possible motives for the crime.

As the case unfolds, many are left questioning what led this Ivy League graduate from a prominent family to allegedly commit such a violent act.