ALTOONA, Pa. — A man linked to the shocking murder of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO in Manhattan was apprehended and formally charged with murder on Monday. The arrest came after an observant McDonald’s patron in Pennsylvania recognized the suspect from surveillance footage, leading to a significant breakthrough in a complex investigation just five days after the incident rattled the corporate world.
Luigi Nicholas Mangione, a 26-year-old who graduated from an Ivy League school, had a weapon that is believed to be the same one used in last Wednesday’s fatal shooting of Brian Thompson. Law enforcement officials also discovered writings expressing hostility towards corporate America during the arrest. Following the apprehension, Manhattan prosecutors quickly filed murder charges and additional counts against Mangione. He remains in custody in Pennsylvania, facing other charges that include possession of an unregistered firearm, forgery, and giving false identification to police.
According to court documents, Mangione was spotted seated at the back of a McDonald’s, wearing a blue medical mask and focused on his laptop. A vigilant customer recognized him, prompting an employee to contact authorities. NYPD deputy commissioner Kaz Daughtry noted that when police arrived, Officer Tyler Frye and his partner instantly identified Mangione upon him lowering his mask. Eyewitness accounts indicated that when questioned about his recent travels to New York, Mangione appeared nervous, shaking in response.
Upon searching his backpack, police discovered a 3D-printed gun and silencer, described in the complaint as “ghost guns” that can be easily assembled at home without serial numbers, complicating tracing efforts. The firearm featured a metal slide and a plastic handle with a threaded barrel.
Police detained Mangione around 9:15 a.m. His attire and a mask were found to resemble those worn by the perpetrator during the shooting. Additionally, investigators uncovered a fake New Jersey ID that matched the one used by the suspect to register at a Manhattan hostel before the murder, as stated by NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch.
Mangione’s family expressed their shock and devastation over his arrest, offering prayers for the bereaved family of Thompson, while they themselves grapple with the situation. In a brief court hearing, Mangione was arraigned and denied bail. He requested time to consider representation by a public defender. Extradition to New York for the murder charges is anticipated.
Authorities also found a three-page document in which Mangione articulated resentment towards corporate America, indicating that it revealed his motivation and mindset. A law enforcement source mentioned that the document contained a claim of solitary action regarding the crime.
Additionally, he was found in possession of a passport and $10,000 in cash, including $2,000 in foreign currency, which Mangione contested. Thompson, age 50, was shot while walking to a hotel where UnitedHealth Group was hosting its annual investor meeting.
The violent act sent shockwaves throughout the business sector, particularly within the health insurance industry, leading many firms to reassess their security measures and remove images of executives from digital platforms.
Mangione’s educational background highlights his achievements; he graduated as valedictorian from a prestigious Baltimore prep school in 2016 before obtaining both undergraduate and graduate degrees in computer science from the University of Pennsylvania in 2020. His family history includes ownership of a country club located north of Baltimore, with police blocking access to the property linked to his parents on the day following his arrest.
Following the shooting, Mangione traveled across Pennsylvania, evading detection, according to State Police Lt. Col. George Bivens. Mangione appeared to be making efforts to remain low-profile, even though he was not completely successful.
After the incident, police sought public assistance by distributing various surveillance images and video footage from the attack and prior sightings at a local Starbucks. Some footage depicted Mangione smiling after removing his mask inside the hostel.
Investigators initially speculated that the shooter could have been an aggrieved employee or client of the insurer. Notably, nearby Thompson’s body, shell casings were marked with terms like “delay,” “deny,” and “depose,” reflecting phrases commonly used by critics of the insurance industry.
During the shooting, the suspect concealed his identity, yet left several pieces of evidence behind, including a backpack discarded in Central Park and a cellphone along with a water bottle and protein bar wrapper purchased shortly before the ambush. It was later established that he fled Manhattan shortly after the tragedy, tracing his movements revealed he made his way to Central Park and then to a bus station with connections to New Jersey.
