On December 4, UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was shot and killed outside his New York City Hotel. Thompson was holding a conference and on his way to speak at the investor meeting when he was shot by the gunman in the back. Security footage supports the idea that the attack was preplanned and premeditated, as the suspect is seen waiting as multiple people pass by, clearly waiting for an intended target. The suspect quickly took off after the attack, and the CEO was pronounced dead not long after at Mount Sinai West.
All law enforcement directed their attention to tracking down the gunman who shot Thompson. Using any security footage that spotted the suspect around the city, they had a general guide for physical appearance. These photos were released to the media to engage the public in finding the man responsible. After several days of intense searching, the police received a call from a McDonald’s in Pennsylvania, roughly 230 miles from the city, claiming they had identified the suspect. Police arrived at the McDonald’s to find a man sitting with a beanie and a medical mask in the corner. After asking several questions about his identity and previous whereabouts, the man turned over a New Jersey ID with the name “Mark Rosario.” Police failed to find any records under that name, he revealed his real name was Luigi Mangione. Doubled with nervous body language and a suspicious backstory, he was arrested and informed he was under criminal investigation. The police found a black 3D-printed pistol with a magazine and silencer in his backpack, matching the weapon used in the murder, helping to solidify his connection.
Luigi Mangione is a 26-year-old Ivy League graduate who comes from a well-off family in Maryland. He was the valediction of his high school, receiving both his bachelor’s and his master’s degree at the University of Pennsylvania. He has dark, curly hair, thick eyebrows, a larger nose, and a smaller, defined face. From the cheap security footage previously released, he seemed to match the suspect description to a tea.
Mangione has been charged with several counts, including “two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, one count of second-degree possession of a forged document, and one count of a third-degree criminal possession of a firearm.” Considering the arrest was made on Monday, there are few updates on the status of his trial.
A surprising detail found at the crime scene after a closer look was the words found on the shell casings. Written was the saying: “Deny,” Defend,” and “Depose.” Many believe this is in reference to a 2010 book criticizing the insurance industry, which is titled “Delay Deny Defend.” This could hint at Mangione’s motive behind the UnitedHealthcare CEO’s killing.
Further details will be released to the public when Mangione faces a judge, but he will remain in prison until further notice.
