Luigi Mangione Arrested in Connection with UnitedHealthcare CEO Murder

Luigi Mangione, a 26-year-old Maryland native, has been arrested in connection with the assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. After a McDonald’s employee recognized him and alerted authorities, he was apprehended in Altoona, Pennsylvania.

Initially detained on firearms charges, Mangione has now been formally charged with murder in New York. The arrest followed a week-long investigation into Thompson’s killing outside a Midtown Manhattan hotel during a shareholder conference.

Authorities revealed unsettling details from the arrest: Mangione was found in possession of a “ghost gun“—a firearm assembled without a serial number—along with a silencer and a three-page manifesto. The document allegedly expressed his discontent with corporate America, particularly targeting health insurance companies. NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny stated that the manifesto revealed Mangione’s “ill will toward corporate America.”

Mangione’s background contrasts sharply with the allegations. Raised in a well-off Baltimore family with significant real estate interests, he was valedictorian of the Gilman School and graduated with honors in computer science from the University of Pennsylvania. Once a promising young man active in academics and extracurriculars, he had reportedly become estranged from friends and family in recent months.

During his arrest, Mangione initially provided false identification but later admitted his true identity. He carried multiple fake IDs, including a New Jersey driver’s license used to check into a New York City hostel before the shooting. His backpack contained the unlicensed firearm, cash (including foreign currency), and other materials suggesting careful planning.

The case has elicited strong reactions, with many expressing relief at the arrest while others debate the societal pressures highlighted in the manifesto. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro condemned those applauding the crime, stressing that violence cannot address grievances against corporate practices.

Mangione faces charges in New York, including second-degree murder, illegal possession of a weapon, and forgery. He is currently being held without bail in Pennsylvania and awaits extradition to New York to stand trial.