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Altoona, PA (WorkersCompensation.com) – New York City’s police commissioner said Monday night that police have arrested a man they believe shot and killed the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, Brian Thompson.
Police arrested Luigi Nicholas Mangione, 26, after receiving a tip that he’d been spotted at an Altoona, Penn., McDonald’s. Mangione was taken into custody and initially charged with forgery and carrying a firearm without a license.
Mangione was found with a 3D-printed gun on him, and police believe it is the one used last week in Thompson’s shooting. Additionally, Mangione had writings on him suggesting that he was angry with corporate America, officials said.
Brian Thompson was shot on Dec. 4 as he was making his way to a midtown Manhattan Hilton hotel. Thompson was in New York City for an investor meeting, officials said. Around 6:45 a.m., he was crossing the street to the hotel when an armed gunman stepped out from behind a car and followed him briefly before shooting him in the leg. Video of the incident showed the suspect cleared a jam from his gun before shooting Thompson two more times. Thompson was shot in the leg and chest.
After the shooting, Thompson was taken to a nearby hospital while the suspect fled into Central Park. The shooting led to a nearly weeklong manhunt throughout New York City. Investigators found evidence at the scene that led them to believe Thompson was targeted. Shell casings at the scene had the words “deny,” “depose,” and “delay” written on them, what investigators felt was a nod to tactics used in denying claims in the insurance industry, officials said.
Officials said Mangione was spotted by a McDonald's employee who called the police. The employee said he recognized the man as the person wanted in the shooting. Officials said Mangione began shaking when police asked if he had been in New York City lately. Police also said Mangione had a gun on him similar to the one used in the shooting, as well as a gun silencer.
During their investigation of the suspect, police found a handwritten document that “speaks to both his motivation and his mindset,” NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch told reporters during a press release. The Altoona Deputy Chief of Police Derek Swope said investigators characterized the writings as “voluminous.”
“They were very detailed, and everything we have is going to be turned over to the NYPD,” Swope told The Associated Press without further characterizing the writings.
Officials said Mangione was born and raised in Maryland, and has ties to San Francisco. One of his cousins is a Maryland state legislator and his family bought a country club north of Baltimore in the 1980s, media reports indicated.
Officials said Mangione left New York City and traveled to Philadelphia and then to Pittsburgh. He was likely in a variety of cities across the state, officials said, and took steps to avoid detection by some of the electronic devices.
“Based on everything we have seen, he was very careful with trying to stay low profile, avoid cameras — not all that successfully in some cases, but that was certainly the effort he was making,” Lt. Col. George Bivens of the Pennsylvania State Police.
Officials said Mangione had a passport and about $10,000 in cash, $2,000 of it in foreign currency, on him when he was arrested. Additionally, he had a box of masks on him.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro called the McDonald’s employee who notified the police a “hero.”
“A Pennsylvania resident saw something early this morning and said something to our local police,” Shapiro said. “In some dark corners, this killer is being hailed as a hero. Hear me on this, he is no hero. In America, we do not kill people in cold blood to resolve policy differences or express a viewpoint. The real hero in this story is the person who called 911 at McDonald’s this morning.”
By Monday night, after an appearance in Pennsylvania court, law enforcement officials said additional charges would be filed in New York. Online court documents showed that he had been charged with one count of second-degree murder, two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, one count of second-degree possession of a forged instrument, and one count of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon.
His family released a statement through his cousin, state delegate Nino Mangione.
“Our family is shocked and devastated by Luigi’s arrest,” the family said in a written statement. “We offer prayers to the family of Brian Thompson and we ask people to pray for all involved.”
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About The Author
About The Author
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Liz Carey
Liz Carey has worked as a writer, reporter and editor for nearly 25 years. First, as an investigative reporter for Gannett and later as the Vice President of a local Chamber of Commerce, Carey has covered everything from local government to the statehouse to the aerospace industry. Her work as a reporter, as well as her work in the community, have led her to become an advocate for the working poor, as well as the small business owner.
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