Authorities have apprehended a suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Luigi Mangione, a 26-year-old Ivy League graduate from Towson, Maryland, was taken into custody Monday morning while eating at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, according to law enforcement sources. His arrest ended a multi-state manhunt following the targeted execution of Thompson outside a Manhattan hotel last week.
Mangione, a self-described anti-capitalist and former tech prodigy, is accused of harboring a deep-seated grudge against the medical community, which he blamed for the treatment of an ailing relative, sources said. The suspect’s manifesto reportedly declared, “These parasites had it coming,” echoing the anti-establishment rhetoric found in quotes he had previously liked online from Ted Kaczynski, the infamous “Unabomber.”
At the time of his arrest, police found Mangione in possession of a “ghost gun” — a firearm without a serial number — fitted with a silencer and loaded with 9mm rounds. Officers also seized a U.S. passport, four fake IDs linked to his movements in New York City, and a two-and-a-half-page handwritten manifesto, which authorities say reflects his extremist views.
Mangione’s past paints a picture of a high-achieving student with a promising future. A valedictorian of his 2016 graduating class at the prestigious Gilman School in Baltimore, Mangione went on to attend the University of Pennsylvania. He earned both a Bachelor of Science in Engineering (BSE) and a Master of Science in Engineering (MSE) in Computer and Information Science, graduating cum laude. He later worked as a data engineer for a California-based automotive company, according to his LinkedIn profile.
Authorities are now investigating the ideological motivations behind the crime. Mangione’s online activity revealed an interest in anti-capitalist, anti-establishment, and climate change causes. His Goodreads account featured quotes from Kaczynski, one of which criticized modern society’s reliance on antidepressants, stating that instead of addressing the root causes of misery, society merely “modifies” individuals’ mental states.
Thompson, 50, was shot multiple times outside the Hilton Hotel on Sixth Avenue in what police described as a “brazen, targeted attack.” Surveillance footage captured the gunman at several locations around Manhattan, including a nearby Starbucks. Shell casings found at the scene reportedly bore cryptic messages, with words like “deny,” “depose,” and “defend” inscribed on them.
Thompson, who had been with UnitedHealthcare since 2004, was named CEO in 2021. His wife, Paulette, revealed that he had been receiving threats prior to his murder. Law enforcement is still investigating any potential connections between these threats and Mangione.
Mangione’s background as a tech innovator adds another layer of complexity to the case. While at the University of Pennsylvania, he co-founded a student-run video game development club, which later became the University of Pennsylvania Game Research and Development Environment. He also co-founded AppRoar Studios, an app development start-up aimed at providing “the simplest and most engaging gaming experience.”
Despite his promising career trajectory, his alleged descent into anti-capitalist extremism has left many stunned. Investigations continue, and police are working to determine if Mangione acted alone. While he has not been formally charged with Thompson’s murder, his capture marks a significant development in a case that has gripped national attention.