Authorities have charged Luigi Mangione in connection with the targeted killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, describing the crime as a “premeditated, pre-planned attack.”
Mangione was detained Monday at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania after a customer recognized him and notified staff, who alerted police. Mangione’s arrest has led to a series of charges, including first-degree murder and multiple weapons-related offenses, Manhattan prosecutors confirmed.
Arrest and chilling details uncovered in UnitedHealthcare CEO’s murder
Mangione was reportedly seated at the rear of the McDonald’s, wearing a medical mask and using a laptop when officers approached. According to police, when asked if he had been in New York recently, he “became quiet and started to shake.”
Mangione initially presented a forged New Jersey ID under the name Mark Rosario but later revealed his true identity after officers failed to find any records matching the alias.
A search of Mangione’s backpack yielded a 3D-printed pistol, a silencer, and ammunition. Court documents reveal that the weapon contained a loaded Glock magazine with six nine-millimeter rounds and a single hollow-point round.
The suspect has been charged with multiple offenses, including forgery, possession of a firearm without a license, tampering with records, and providing false identification to law enforcement.
A premeditated attack in midtown Manhattan on the CEO of UnitedHealthcare
Brian Thompson was fatally shot on his way to UnitedHealthcare’s annual investor conference at a Midtown Hilton, just blocks from iconic landmarks like Radio City Music Hall. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch confirmed that Mangione is considered the primary suspect in the “brazen, targeted murder.”
At a press conference, Tisch noted that Mangione’s clothing and a mask matched those worn by the shooter. A fraudulent ID found in Mangione’s possession also aligned with one used by the suspect to check into a New York City hostel before the crime.
NYPD officials revealed that the ammunition used in the shooting had the words “Delay,” “Deny,” and “Depose” etched onto it—terms commonly associated with criticisms of the insurance industry. “This was not a random act of violence,” Tisch stated. “He is believed to be our person of interest in the murder of Brian Thompson.”
A nationwide trial and pending extradition
Mangione, originally from Maryland, has connections to San Francisco and a last known address in Honolulu, according to NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny. His capture marks the culmination of an intense manhunt spanning multiple states.
Extraditing Mangione to New York could take months, legal experts say. Pennsylvania authorities may expedite the process by allowing Manhattan prosecutors to indict Mangione for the murder while he remains in Pennsylvania custody.
A community in mourning
Footage from the day of the attack shows first responders frantically attempting to save Thompson’s life on a busy Midtown street. As details of the crime emerge, the tragedy has left both the corporate world and the wider community in shock.
Thompson’s murder underscores growing concerns about the security of public figures and has prompted calls for increased scrutiny of premeditated crimes. For now, law enforcement remains committed to ensuring justice is served in what they have deemed a calculated and deliberate act.