NEW YORK — The individual accused of murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was not a member of the health insurance company and may have targeted it due to its stature and impact within the industry, a high-ranking police official stated on Thursday.
In an interview with NBC New York, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny revealed that evidence has emerged suggesting Luigi Mangione was aware that UnitedHealthcare was hosting its annual investor gathering in New York City. Mangione also referenced the company in a note found with him upon his arrest in Pennsylvania.
“There is no evidence that he was a client of UnitedHealthcare; however, he does comment on it being the fifth largest corporation in America, which positions it as the largest health insurer in the United States. This may have contributed to his decision to target the organization,” Kenny explained.
While UnitedHealthcare is indeed among the top 20 U.S. companies by market capitalization, it does not hold the fifth position; however, it ranks as the largest health insurance provider in the country.
Mangione is currently being held without bail in Pennsylvania after his arrest on Monday, having been spotted at a McDonald’s in Altoona, approximately 230 miles west of New York City. His attorney, Thomas Dickey, indicated that Mangione plans to plead not guilty and has yet to examine any conclusive evidence tying him to the murder.
This arrest occurred five days following the shocking murder of Thompson, which was captured on video outside a hotel in Manhattan where the investor conference was taking place. Police report that the shooter waited outside the venue and approached Thompson from behind, fatally shooting him before fleeing on a bicycle through Central Park.
Mangione is contesting efforts to extradite him back to New York to face murder charges related to Thompson’s death, with a court hearing set for December 30.
At 26 years old, Mangione has also been charged in Pennsylvania with possession of an unlicensed firearm, forgery, and supplying false identification to law enforcement. He possesses a background as an Ivy League graduate from a well-known Maryland real estate family. His social media posts reflect his struggles with severe chronic back pain and detail a spinal fusion surgery he underwent in 2023. After the surgery, he claimed significant pain relief and improved mobility, urging others to explore similar surgical options.
Authorities shared that they are examining Mangione’s writings relating to his health issues, as well as his critiques of corporate America and the U.S. healthcare system. Additionally, Kenny disclosed that Mangione’s family reported him missing to authorities in San Francisco in November.
