Luigi Mangione, 26, was indicted on Monday (10) in connection with the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City.
The attack on Thompson last week triggered a massive manhunt for the suspect, but no arrests had been made in connection with the case until Monday, when Mangione was apprehended at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania.
The Altoona Police Department confirmed in a press release that Mangione was initially arrested on charges unrelated to Thompson’s murder, but rather for illegally carrying a firearm and presenting authorities with a forged document.
Who is Luigi Mangione?
The last known address of Mangione was in Honolulu, Hawaii, but he was born and raised in Maryland.
He attended the University of Pennsylvania, an Ivy League School, where he graduated in May 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in engineering, majoring in computer science and mathematics. He also received a master’s degree in computer and information engineering.
Mangione came from a wealthy family in Baltimore, built on his grandfather’s real estate success. Nino Mangione, a Republican member of the Maryland House of Delegates and Luigi’s relative, shared a statement from his family, which said they were “shocked and devastated by Luigi’s arrest.”
Motivation for the crime
Investigators are now examining a handwritten manifesto that Mangione had in his possession when he was arrested.
The 262-word handwritten document begins with the author seemingly taking responsibility for the murder, according to an officer who saw the document. It notes that as UnitedHealthcare’s market capitalization grew, American life expectancy did not.
“To spare you a lengthy investigation, I clearly state that I was not working with anyone,” the writer wrote. The note condemns companies that “continue to abuse our country for immense profit because the American public has allowed them to escape unpunished.”
Mangione suffered from prolonged chronic back pain. According to many reports from friends, he recently underwent a difficult back surgery that left him in constant discomfort.
Investigators have not yet made any connection between the murder and Mangione’s health conditions, but Thompson’s death has reopened a national debate about the health insurance industry, with many people reporting various negative stories involving their insurance.
Sources: Axios and The New York Times