Authorities have arrested the man suspected of killing Brian Thompson, a top executive at UnitedHealth Group, in a shocking shooting outside a Manhattan hotel last week. New York City officials announced the news on Monday, ending a massive five-day manhunt that spanned multiple states.
The suspect, Luigi Mangione, 26, was caught in Altoona, Pennsylvania, after an alert McDonald’s employee noticed him dining at the restaurant and thought he resembled the gunman. Acting on the tip, police arrested Mangione, who had been on the run since the attack.
During the arrest, officers found Mangione carrying a “ghost gun” – a firearm made from untraceable parts – along with a silencer. New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch confirmed the weapon was similar to the one used in the shooting. Police also discovered clothes and a mask that matched what the killer was seen wearing on surveillance footage. Investigators believe the ghost gun may have been produced using a 3D printer, according to NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny.
Mangione, originally from Maryland, had several fake IDs, including a fraudulent New Jersey ID. Officials said this ID was used to check into a Manhattan hostel just days before the shooting. Authorities also found a handwritten document in Mangione’s possession, which shed light on his mindset and hinted at his strong dislike for corporate America.
Mangione has an impressive academic background. He graduated as valedictorian from an all-boys school in Baltimore in 2016 before earning dual engineering degrees from the University of Pennsylvania in 2020. His last known address was in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Police revealed more details about the crime, describing how the tragic incident unfolded. On Wednesday morning, Thompson, 50, was shot from behind outside a Manhattan hotel. The shooter, wearing a mask, appeared to have waited for him to arrive before pulling the trigger. After the attack, the suspect fled the scene on a bicycle, riding into Central Park. Surveillance footage later showed him leaving the park and catching a taxi to a bus station in northern Manhattan, where he likely boarded a bus to escape the city.
The investigation uncovered chilling details. Shell casings found at the crime scene were engraved with the words “deny,” “defend,” and “depose.” These phrases echo the title of a 2010 book critical of the insurance industry, highlighting frustrations many Americans feel toward health insurance companies. Thompson’s murder has sparked widespread discussion about rising healthcare costs and denied claims.
Thompson, a father of two, had been with UnitedHealth Group for two decades and was serving as CEO of its insurance unit since April 2021. He was in New York for the company’s annual investor conference at the time of his death.
Mangione, who is now facing firearms charges in Pennsylvania, will likely be extradited to New York to face murder charges. As of Monday evening, he was scheduled to appear in court for arraignment.
A spokesperson for UnitedHealth expressed hope that the suspect’s capture would bring some solace to Thompson’s family, friends, and colleagues, calling the incident an “unspeakable tragedy.”
