Suspect Luigi Mangione, accused of shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, was arrested in Altoona, Pennsylvania, around 9 a.m. on Monday after being reported by McDonald’s employees. According to NYPD Detective Joe Kenny, police obtained a three-page document written by Mangione. An anonymous law enforcement official revealed that Mangione wrote, “To the FBI: Long story short, I do indeed respect all that you do for our country. To save you from a lengthy investigation, I will be direct – I have not collaborated with anyone.”
In the document, he also expressed dissatisfaction with “some malice of American corporations” and the healthcare system, which could be the motive behind the crime. Mangione later added, “For any conflicts or trauma, I apologize deeply, but it had to be done. Frankly, these parasites brought it upon themselves.”
Mangione was arrested while dining at a fast-food restaurant, where he was found with a firearm and possessing a forged New Jersey identification. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch stated at a press conference that the name on the fake ID matched the name of the person registered at a hotel in New York. The “ghost gun” found on Mangione was also consistent with the weapon used to kill Thompson.
Charges reveal that the ghost gun was produced by a 3D printer. Mangione, a 26-year-old Ivy League graduate, is said to be reserved and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a bachelor’s and master’s degrees in computer science, according to his personal profiles on social media platforms like Facebook and LinkedIn.
After his arrest on Monday in Pennsylvania, Mangione faces five charges: carrying a firearm without a permit, forgery, tampering with records, providing false identification to law enforcement, and possessing criminal tools, as per the criminal complaint. Prosecutors later filed murder charges against the suspect.
According to multiple media reports citing sources, on Monday morning, the man took a long-distance bus through Altoona, got off, and entered a McDonald’s restaurant, where an employee recognized him from a wanted notice by the NYPD and alerted the authorities.
During a press conference, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro commended the McDonald’s employee who identified Mangione and called 911, stating, “The real hero in this story is the person who dialed 911 at McDonald’s this morning,” showcasing the close relationship between law enforcement agencies and the local community in Altoona.
In the early hours of December 4th, Thompson was fatally shot outside the Hilton Hotel in Midtown Manhattan. He was preparing to attend an investor meeting held by his company at the hotel.
(Information referenced from reports by “The Hill”)