A 26-year-old man from Altoona, Pennsylvania, has been arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, law enforcement officials confirmed on Monday. The suspect, identified as Luigi Mangione, was detained on weapons charges after being found in possession of a firearm similar to the one used in Thompson’s killing.
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch confirmed the arrest, adding that officers recovered a fake ID with the name “Marc Rosario,” which matched the identity the suspect allegedly used to check into a New York City hostel days before the murder. Authorities believe the ID was part of Mangione’s efforts to conceal his identity.
“We believe we have a strong person of interest,” said New York Mayor Eric Adams. The arrest followed a tip from a McDonald’s employee in Altoona who reported a suspicious individual, prompting local police to act quickly.
According to police, Mangione was found with a weapon that may have been homemade and potentially untraceable by conventional law enforcement methods. The gun is believed to be a “ghost gun,” a firearm that is typically assembled using parts that can be 3D-printed, making it difficult to track.
“This gun appears to have been made on a 3D printer,” said Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny. “It was capable of firing a 9mm round and had a suppressor attached.”
In addition to the weapon, authorities also discovered a handwritten document in Mangione’s possession that seemed to outline his motivations and mindset. The document, which was described as three handwritten pages, is now in the custody of Altoona police.
“It does seem that he harbors ill will toward corporate America,” Kenny added, noting that the contents of the document will be key to understanding the suspect’s potential motives.
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Thompson, 58, was shot and killed in the early morning hours of November 3 outside the New York Hilton Midtown. Surveillance footage showed a masked assailant approaching Thompson from behind before opening fire around 6:45 a.m. The shooter fled on foot, later ditching his shoes, and then rode a bike into Central Park. The last known footage of the suspect placed him at a bus depot in Upper Manhattan.
As investigators work to piece together the timeline, they are exploring the possibility that Mangione traveled to Altoona from Philadelphia, roughly 240 miles away from his arrest location. The suspect’s movements, along with the recovered evidence, are leading authorities to focus on the route he may have taken after fleeing New York.
The FBI has offered a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the gunman, in addition to the combined $10,000 already offered by Crime Stoppers and the NYPD.
Thompson’s tragic death has sent shockwaves through both the corporate and healthcare sectors, raising questions about the security measures in place for high-level executives. The case has also ignited a wider conversation about the growing anger toward private healthcare companies.
Social media platforms were flooded with posts that either celebrated or sought to justify Thompson’s killing, reflecting a deepening resentment against the private healthcare industry.
Police officials emphasized the role the public played in the investigation, with Commissioner Tisch crediting tips and forensic evidence in advancing the case. “There have been numerous linchpins in this investigation, and the public’s assistance has been crucial,” she said.
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Thompson’s killing, which occurred in broad daylight in a bustling area of Manhattan, has raised concerns about the safety of prominent corporate figures in an era of increasing violence and public unrest. The investigation into Thompson’s murder is ongoing as law enforcement continues to gather evidence and piece together the suspect’s motivations.
