Luigi Mangione named ‘strong person of interest’ in UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson murder after McDonald’s arrest
A 26-YEAR-OLD has been named as the person of interest in the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson after he was arrested at McDonald's with a ghost gun, silencer, and handwritten manifesto.
Luigi Mangione was taken into custody in Altoona, Pennsylvania on Monday - five days after Thompson, 50, was gunned down at a hotel in Midtown Manhattan.
A McDonald's employee called the cops on the suspect, who was "sitting there eating," New York Police Department Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said at a press conference on Monday.
Mangione had writings that criticized the health insurance industry when he was arrested at the chain restaurant, about 280 miles west of Manhattan, NYPD said.
"We don't think that there's any specific threat to other people mentioned in that document, but it does seem he has some ill will toward corporate America," Kenny said.
Mangione was born and raised in Maryland, where he was valedictorian of his high school graduating class at Gilman School in Baltimore.
Read more in The U.S. Sun
His last known address was in Honolulu, Hawaii. He had no prior criminal history.
He was arrested with a "ghost gun" that may have been made on a 3D printer consistent with the gun used to shoot down Thompson, NYPD said.
Thompson was ruthlessly murdered at 6:45 am on Wednesday as he walked across the street from his hotel and into an investor conference at the Hilton.
The shooter milled around the entrance for minutes before sneaking up behind the CEO and unloading a barrage of bullets into his back and leg, eerie surveillance revealed.
After the brazen and targeted crime, the killer jumped on an e-bike, pedaling uptown before zooming into Central Park.
He then exited Central Park around 77th Street, still with the bike, New York Police Department Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny told CNN.
DESTINATION UNKNOWN
Police released more surveillance footage on December 6 that showed the suspect walking to 86th Street and Columbus Avenue before getting into a taxi to Port Authority Bus Terminal, near 178th Street and Broadway.
On December 7, investigators released two additional photos of the alleged assassin in the back seat of a taxi on the day of the shooting.
The accused killer was pictured in the vehicle's back seat with a blue surgical mask, a dark hat, and a black hood.
The second image captured the man walking on the sidewalk near the taxi.
What we know...
- A person of interest was arrested at McDonald's with a ghost gun, silencer, and the same fake ID used by the killer at a NYC hostel
- He had a handwritten manifesto on him that slammed healthcare companies for putting profits above care, sources said
- The arrest comes after police found the assassin's backpack at Central Park and discovered Monopoly money inside
- Photos showed the suspected killer smiling as he pulled down his face mask to flirt with a hostel receptionist
- An expert said the killer’s gun malfunction may have been ‘for show’ and linked to a secret message on bullets
- The shooter milled around the entrance for minutes before sneaking up behind the CEO and unloading a barrage of bullets into his back and leg, eerie surveillance revealed
Investigators believed the suspected gunman boarded an interstate bus and escaped the city.
New York Police recovered a backpack believed to belong to the suspect in Central Park wedged between two rocks near the carousel on December 7.
Timeline of Brian Thompson's murder
BRIAN Thompson, the 50-year-old CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was shot to death in Manhattan in an execution-like killing.
Here is everything we know about Thompson's murder so far.
Monday, December 2 - Thompson travels from his home in Minnesota to New York City for an investor conference in Midtown Manhattan.
Wednesday, December 4, 6:45 am - Thompson walks from his hotel across the street to the New York Hilton Midtown and is murdered by a masked shooter. The execution was caught on surveillance, and the suspect was seen biking away toward Central Park. Cops spark a citywide search for the assassin.
11:30 am - Cops released disturbing images of the execution, offered a reward for information, and made a desperate plea for New Yorkers to keep their eyes out.
12:00 pm - Thompson's estranged wife Paulette revealed her husband had been threatened before he was shot.
2:45 pm - Cops released more eerie images of the suspect ordering at Starbucks that partially revealed his face. The U.S. Sun confirmed the coffee shop was just two blocks away from the shooting, but it's unclear when he stopped by.
December 5, 6 am - Reports claim the words "deny," "dispose," and "defend" were engraved on live rounds and shell casings left behind by the assassin. These words echo the book Delay, Deny, Defend, which is about the failings of the healthcare industry. The author of the book had no comment on the reports.
8 am- Cops raid a hostel in the Upper West Side of New York City where the suspect is said to have stayed. It's believed he wore a mask for most of the time he was there.
11 am - A person of interest in Thompson's murder is pictured. He's wearing a hood in the photo, but his full face could be seen breaking into a beaming grin. Still, no arrests have been made in the investigation.
Afternoon - Law enforcement confirms the suspect arrived in New York City on a Greyhound bus on November 24. It's also confirmed that the suspect dropped a burner cell phone near the scene of the shooting.
December 6, 3 pm - Police announce they believe the killer has left New York City via interstate bus. They release more surveillance footage that shows him taking a taxi to the George Washington Bridge Bus Station.
December 9 - Luigi Mangione, 26, is arrested as a "strong person of interest" at a McDonald's in Altoona, Pennsylvania. He was carrying a three-page manifesto, fake IDs, and a gun similar to the one used in Thompson's murder.
Inside the Peak Design backpack, authorities found a Tommy Hilfiger jacket and Monopoly money, according to CNN.
'FLIRTATIOUS ASSASSIN'
Hours after the fatal shooting in Midtown, authorities released two images of the suspect shrouded in dark clothing and a face mask in a desperate bid to arrest the suspect, but days went by without his identity being released.
Another bizarre image of a person of interest grinning a sly smile while reportedly flirting with a receptionist was shared, but it didn't immediately lead to any breakthroughs.
The suspect was able to evade the police by using a fake ID and wearing a mask as he stayed at the HI New York City Hotel in the Upper West Side.
Investigators discovered bullets at the scene that had the words "deny," "depose," and "defend" written on them.
It's been speculated that the words could refer to the book Delay, Deny, Defend, which unpacks the failings of insurance companies.
Police recovered three live 9mm rounds and three discharged casings.
Authorities also found a dropped cell phone and combed Citi Bike data as part of their probe.
The suspect came to New York City last month on a bus that left from Atlanta.
Military experts claimed the hooded shooter was a professional hitman.
DNA evidence was sent to a lab on Thursday, but it's unclear exactly what detectives got their hands on.
Before the shooting, the killer visited a Starbucks on West 56th Street, where he bought a coffee, water, and two energy bars, paying in cash.
The water bottle was left at the coffee shop, and police nabbed the DNA to start a profile.
CEO'S THREATS
Thompson’s relatives have branded the killing senseless.
“We are shattered to hear about the senseless killing of our beloved Brian,” grieving wife Paulette told CNN.
“Brian was an incredibly loving, generous, talented man who truly lived life to the fullest and touched so many lives.
“Most importantly, Brian was an incredibly loving father to our two sons and will be greatly missed.”
Paulette claimed her husband had been threatened in the past.
The shooting unfolded just hours before tourists flocked to watch the Rockefeller Christmas Tree lights switch on.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
Timeline of Brian Thompson's murder
BRIAN Thompson, the 50-year-old CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was shot to death in Manhattan in an execution-like killing.
Here is everything we know about Thompson's murder so far.
Monday, December 2 - Thompson travels from his home in Minnesota to New York City for an investor conference in Midtown Manhattan.
Wednesday, December 4, 6:45 am - Thompson walks from his hotel across the street to the New York Hilton Midtown and is murdered by a masked shooter. The execution was caught on surveillance, and the suspect was seen biking away toward Central Park. Cops spark a citywide search for the assassin.
11:30 am - Cops released disturbing images of the execution, offered a reward for information, and made a desperate plea for New Yorkers to keep their eyes out.
12:00 pm - Thompson's estranged wife Paulette revealed her husband had been threatened before he was shot.
2:45 pm - Cops released more eerie images of the suspect ordering at Starbucks that partially revealed his face. The U.S. Sun confirmed the coffee shop was just two blocks away from the shooting, but it's unclear when he stopped by.
December 5, 6 am - Reports claim the words "deny," "dispose," and "defend" were engraved on live rounds and shell casings left behind by the assassin. These words echo the book Delay, Deny, Defend, which is about the failings of the healthcare industry. The author of the book had no comment on the reports.
8 am- Cops raid a hostel in the Upper West Side of New York City where the suspect is said to have stayed. It's believed he wore a mask for most of the time he was there.
11 am - A person of interest in Thompson's murder is pictured. He's wearing a hood in the photo, but his full face could be seen breaking into a beaming grin. Still, no arrests have been made in the investigation.
Afternoon - Law enforcement confirms the suspect arrived in New York City on a Greyhound bus on November 24. It's also confirmed that the suspect dropped a burner cell phone near the scene of the shooting.
December 6, 3 pm - Police announce they believe the killer has left New York City via interstate bus. They release more surveillance footage that shows him taking a taxi to the George Washington Bridge Bus Station.
December 9 - Luigi Mangione, 26, is arrested as a "strong person of interest" at a McDonald's in Altoona, Pennsylvania. He was carrying a three-page manifesto, fake IDs, and a gun similar to the one used in Thompson's murder.
More to follow... For the latest news on this story, keep checking back at The U.S. Sun, your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, sports news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures, and must-see videos.
Like us on Facebook at TheSunUS and follow us on X at @TheUSSun