By Emma Dognin and Genesis Oquendo
On Wednesday, Dec. 4, Brian Thompson, 50, CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was fatally shot outside a hotel in New York City during the company’s annual investor conference. The masked gunman escaped on a city bike, leaving behind traces of his identity in what investigators believe was a premeditated attack. The NYPD tracked surveillance footage of the shooter at a Starbucks and found bullet casings inscribed with words such as "delay," "deny," and "defend," which investigators suspect refer to the three D's of insurance.
Prior to his death, Thompson was under investigation by the Justice Department for allegedly soliciting illegal stock trades and receiving numerous death threats. UnitedHealthcare has been embroiled in several high-profile scandals involving coverage denials and nonpayment, including denying rehab care for senior citizens and restricting access to post-acute care, all while earning up to $372 billion in revenue last year.
Thompson's death has led other healthcare insurance CEOs to remove their profile pictures and information from company websites. It has also reignited public outrage toward the nation’s healthcare system. On X, formerly known as Twitter, some Americans have expressed support for the shooting, while merchandise sellers have begun offering items inspired by the event.
The Center for Internet Security (CIS) has warned that the widespread support of Thompson’s death may encourage future copycats.
Arrest
On Monday, Dec. 9, the suspect, Luigi Mangione, was arrested at a McDonald’s. Following the arrest, many individuals flooded the Pennsylvania McDonald’s in Altoona with negative Google reviews. Google later removed the reviews for violating the company’s policies.
Police reported that Mangione was in possession of a 3D-printed gun resembling the one used in the shooting, a fake ID, and a manifesto. The manifesto criticized UnitedHealthcare’s growth, stating that while the company prospered, American life expectancy had not. It claimed that companies like UnitedHealthcare "abuse our country for immense profit because the American public has allowed them to get away with it." The manifesto further stated, "Frankly, these parasites simply had it coming."
Background of Luigi Mangione
Mangione, 26, was the valedictorian of his prestigious Baltimore prep school and came from an influential real estate family. He attended both the University of Pennsylvania and Stanford University, where he studied electrical engineering and computer science.
According to his posts on Reddit, Mangione underwent spine surgery for spondylolisthesis in July 2023, which caused him debilitating pain. He also reported experiencing “brain fog,” which led to a decline in his grades before the surgery. It is unclear how he paid for healthcare, as he turned 26 in May and was removed from his parents' insurance.
In April, Mangione traveled to Asia for two months, leaving behind his daily life in Hawaii. This marked the last time his family and friends heard from him until after the shooting. He was reported missing on Nov. 18 by his mother.
Mangione was a member of a book club, and friends noted a shift in his interests toward more extreme views, including the manifestos of violent protesters like Ted Kaczynski, who carried out bombings to highlight the impact of technological advancement on humanity. On GoodReads, Mangione reviewed Kaczynski’s manifesto, quoting: “Peaceful protest is outright ignored, economic protest isn’t possible in the current system, so how long until we recognize that violence against those who lead us to such destruction is justified as self-defense?”
Trial
On Tuesday, Dec. 17, Mangione was charged with premeditated first-degree murder, two counts of second-degree murder in furtherance of terrorism, and weapons charges. If convicted, he could face a life sentence without parole.
While being transported to the Blair County Courthouse in Hollidaysburg, Pa., Mangione had an outburst, shouting, "It’s completely out of touch and an insult to the intelligence of the American people and the lived experience!"
As the case remains active, new information continues to emerge.
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