Luigi Mangione, 26, has been named the person of interest in the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, police confirmed Monday.
Anti-Capitalist Ivy League Grad in Custody
Mangione, originally from Towson, Maryland, is a former valedictorian and Ivy League graduate with a background in engineering from the University of Pennsylvania. Known for his anti-capitalist views, the suspect has ties to San Francisco and previously lived in Honolulu, Hawaii.
He was apprehended Monday in Altoona, Pennsylvania, after an elderly McDonald’s worker recognized him. Authorities arrested him on firearm charges but have not yet charged him in connection with Thompson’s murder.
Brazen Midtown Manhattan Shooting
Brian Thompson, 50, was gunned down last week in Midtown Manhattan ahead of a work conference. The CEO of one of the nation’s largest health insurers was shot multiple times in a calculated attack, described by police as a “targeted murder.”
What Led to the Arrest
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch announced Mangione’s arrest, stating, “He is believed to be our person of interest in the brazen, targeted murder of Brian Thompson.”
When detained, Mangione was carrying a gun with a silencer, a manifesto railing against the healthcare industry, and clothing that matched the suspect’s description. Police also revealed that Mangione had no prior criminal record and was not previously on their radar.
From Valedictorian to Fugitive
Mangione excelled academically, graduating as valedictorian from Baltimore’s elite Gilman School before attending the University of Pennsylvania, where he earned an engineering degree in 2020. Despite his achievements, his manifesto revealed deep disdain for the healthcare system, fueling questions about his motivations.
The investigation into Thompson’s shocking murder continues as authorities piece together the events leading to his untimely death.
