A young man has been arrested in connection with the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
Luigi Mangione, 26, was taken into custody Monday at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, after a customer recognized him from widely circulated photos, police said, as reported by NBC News.
Mangione was arraigned that evening in Pennsylvania on two felony charges: carrying a firearm without a license and forgery.
He also faced three misdemeanor charges: tampering with records, possessing instruments of crime, and providing false identification to police.
Mangione was reportedly denied bail and did not enter a plea. Officials expect charges related to Thompson’s death to be filed in New York soon.
Police said Mangione was found with a firearm resembling the one used in the shooting, along with multiple fake IDs.
Officers immediately recognized him as the person of interest in the case after asking him to remove his mask.
According to the police complaint, when questioned about whether he had recently been to New York, “the male became quiet and started to shake.”
Authorities said Mangione was initially cooperative but later stopped being helpful.
The arrest comes nearly a week after Thompson was killed on December 4 outside the New York Hilton Midtown.
Police are at the crime scene outside the Hilton Hotel in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, on December 4, 2024 | Source: Getty Images
Surveillance footage showed a masked individual approaching from behind, shooting him, and fleeing on a bicycle.
Police later tracked the suspect to a bus depot in Upper Manhattan.
Police found ammunition on the crime scene, reportedly marked with phrases such as “deny,” “delay,” and “depose.”
Officers also recovered fraudulent IDs and clothing matching what the gunman wore during the attack.
An Altoona Police officer briefs the media in Altoona, Pennsylvania, on December 9, 2024 | Source: Getty Images
A handwritten document was seized, which investigators say provides insight into the suspect’s views.
“We don’t think that there’s any specific threats to other people mentioned in that document,” said NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny.
“But it does seem that he has some ill will toward corporate America,” Kenny added.
Mangione has no criminal record before the crime happened.
However, investigators are reportedly reviewing his online activity, which includes references to Ted Kaczynski, a domestic terrorist known for his anti-establishment beliefs.
Thompson’s tragic death has raised concerns about security for high-profile executives.
Despite recent threats, Thompson had not adjusted his travel routine or employed a security detail, according to his wife, Paulette Thompson.
She confirmed he had mentioned receiving threats but provided no further details.
Reactions to the murder ranged from grief within the corporate and healthcare sectors to troubling online praise from some individuals expressing anti-corporate sentiment.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro condemned these responses, emphasizing that violence is never an acceptable way to address grievances or make political statements.
Amid these developments, UnitedHealthcare released a statement expressing hope that the suspect’s apprehension would provide some relief to Thompson’s family, friends, colleagues, and others impacted by the tragedy.
The company’s representative acknowledged law enforcement’s efforts in the suspect’s apprehension and confirmed their support for the ongoing investigation, which aims to uncover further evidence and determine a motive.
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