New York prosecutors have charged Luigi Mangione, 26, with murder in the brazen killing of UnitedHealth executive Brian Thompson, marking the end of a tense five-day manhunt. Mangione was apprehended Monday in Altoona, Pennsylvania, after being identified by a McDonald’s employee and customer. When approached by police, Mangione appeared nervous and declined to answer questions about his recent whereabouts.
Authorities found a loaded “ghost gun” with a silencer, along with clothing and a mask resembling those used by the killer, in Mangione’s backpack. He was arraigned on gun and forgery charges in Pennsylvania, where bail was denied due to his flight risk, as police uncovered fake IDs, cash, and several electronic devices in his possession. New York prosecutors later added murder and four related gun charges.
Thompson, 50, was shot from behind outside a Manhattan hotel early Wednesday morning by a masked man who fled the scene, later biking into Central Park and escaping via bus. Investigators believe Thompson was deliberately targeted, citing carved phrases like “deny,” “defend,” and “depose” found on shell casings, potentially referencing a 2010 book critical of the insurance industry.
A handwritten document recovered from Mangione suggests he harbored “ill will toward corporate America,” though it did not name specific targets. Mangione, a Maryland native and Ivy League graduate, had been living in Honolulu.
Pennsylvania officials are probing his activities in the state and whether he acted alone. Governor Josh Shapiro condemned online glorification of the suspect, emphasizing that violence is no solution to policy grievances.
Thompson, a father of two and CEO of UnitedHealth’s insurance division, was in New York for the company’s investor conference. UnitedHealth expressed hope for justice and relief for Thompson’s family and colleagues.
Also read: Manhunt Intensifies for Suspect in UnitedHealth CEO’s Murder
