In the early morning hours of Wednesday, December 4th, UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was fatally shot outside of the Hilton Midtown in Manhattan, New York, sparking a multiple-day manhunt for the shooter as well as heightening concerns for the safety of top officials in the US insurance industry. After an extensive statewide search for the suspect, Luigi Mangione—a twenty-six-year-old University of Pennsylvania alumnus—was officially named a person of interest after police identified an individual that matched the gunman’s appearance through various surveillance footage from a Manhattan Starbucks and a nearby hostel. Following a six-day search, Mangione was apprehended in a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, after a customer recognized him and alerted authorities. In addition to facing second-degree murder, criminal possession of a forged instrument, and gun charges in the state of New York, Mangione is being held in Pennsylvania on forgery and other gun charges. He now awaits trial and is expected to plead not guilty.
Upon his arrest on December 9th, Mangione’s backpack was found to contain multiple fake identification credentials as well as an unregistered firearm. According to CBS News, the gun retrieved from the backpack was determined to be a ghost gun—a homemade gun without a serial number whose parts are assembled from private sources—the gun used in the shooting against Thompson is believed to be 3D printed by Mangione. When compared to shell casings left on the scene, the firearm found on Mangione perfectly matched the gun thought to be used in the crime. Additionally, the firearm used was equipped with a 3D-printed silencer, a device attached to the gun used to suppress the sound of the blast heard during open fire. Silencers are very common among ghost guns, and new legislation regarding them is being introduced, leading to an influx of usage.
Mangione, who allegedly struggles with a debilitating back injury, was arrested with a hand-written manifesto detailing his motives behind the assassination of Thompson in his backpack, which was collected by police. Throughout his three-page explanation, he highlights the failures of the US healthcare system, referring to Thompson as a “parasite” and claiming he “had it coming.” Throughout the manifesto, Mangione emphasizes how the US healthcare system has failed Americans and apologizes for the violence caused, despite claiming “it had to be done.”
Luigi Mangione comes from a prominent, well-known family in Maryland, where he graduated as valedictorian from the Gilman School, a wealthy all-boys prep school. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2020, where he received degrees in computer science and engineering. His hatred towards Corporate America has long-stemmed digital footprints and can be traced back years. Friends and family of Mangione have told the media that this incident was unexpected and out of character for him. Friends of his told AP News that they always considered Mangione “a great guy.”
As Luigi Mangione awaits sentencing, business leaders and citizens alike are hyper-aware of their actions and surroundings, and many people are fearing for their safety.
This article also appears in our January 2025 print edition.
