Authorities have detained 26-year-old Luigi Mangione in Altoona, Pennsylvania, as a person of interest in the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Mangione, a former valedictorian of Baltimore’s Gilman School, was apprehended at a McDonald’s restaurant after an employee recognized him and alerted the police. At the time of his arrest, Mangione was found in possession of a firearm with a suppressor, both consistent with the weapon used in Thompson’s murder, as well as a fake New Jersey identification card bearing the name “Marc Rosario.” This alias matches the one used by the suspect to check into a Manhattan hostel prior to the shooting. Additionally, a handwritten manifesto criticizing healthcare companies for prioritizing profits over patient care was discovered in his possession.
Brian Thompson, 50, was shot multiple times on December 4, 2024, outside the New York Hilton Midtown hotel, where he was scheduled to speak at an investor conference. Surveillance footage captured the masked assailant approaching Thompson from behind and fleeing the scene on a bicycle. The ammunition recovered at the scene bore the words “delay,” “deny,” and “depose,” phrases associated with criticisms of the health insurance industry.
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch confirmed Mangione’s status as a person of interest, stating, “At this time he is believed to be our person of interest in the brazen, targeted murder of Brian Thompson.” Mangione has not been formally charged in connection with the homicide but is currently held on local firearm charges in Pennsylvania.
The investigation is ongoing as authorities work to determine the motive behind the attack and any potential connections between Mangione and Thompson. UnitedHealthcare has expressed profound grief over Thompson’s death, emphasizing his significant contributions to the company and the healthcare industry.