Authorities have identified Luigi Mangione, a 26-year-old former Ivy League student, as a person of interest in the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
Mangione, who was valedictorian of his high school class and had plans to study artificial intelligence at the University of Pennsylvania, was apprehended at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, following a nationwide manhunt, New York Post first reported.
Upon his arrest, Mangione was found in possession of a handgun equipped with a silencer, multiple fake identification documents, and a handwritten manifesto expressing grievances against the healthcare industry.
According to Daily Mail, he was reportedly found in possession of a 3D-printed ghost gun resembling the one used in the Wednesday morning murder.
According to ABC News, a customer at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, alerted police after recognizing a man in the restaurant from surveillance footage.
NBC reported that customers described the man as “suspicious” before authorities apprehended him.
Mangione has been arrested on firearms charges but has not been charged in connection with Thompson’s murder.
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Investigators are examining his online activities, which reportedly include admiration for anti-capitalist figures and critiques of the insurance sector.
Authorities believe Mangione acted alone and are working to establish a clear motive for the killing. The investigation is ongoing, with forensic analysis being conducted on evidence recovered from the crime scene and items found in Mangione’s possession.
According to his GitHub profile, he took both an M.S.E. and a B.S.E. in Computer Science at the University of Pennsylvania.
Man in Altoona, Pennsylvania, is being questioned by authorities in connection to the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
NBC New York reported that detectives have yet to determine whether the man being questioned is the suspect who killed Brian Thompson last week in Manhattan.
Currently, NYPD investigators are en route to Altoona to question the man being held.
NBC 4 News Steven Bognar stated the guy who is being questioned had a gun similar to the one used in the killing of Brian Thompson.
On Saturday, New York City Mayor Eric Adams indicated to reporters Saturday that the UnitedHealth CEO’s shooter has been identified after a days-long ongoing manhunt.
However, he declined to say whether or not they have the suspect’s name, stating that he doesn’t want to tip off “the person we are seeking.”
“We do not want to give him an upper hand at all,” Adams said.
The NYPD had recovered a backpack on Friday believed to belong to the masked gunman who brazenly assassinated UnitedHealthcare CEO, Brian Thompson.
The unopened bag has been sent for forensic analysis to extract potential DNA, fingerprints, or other evidence that could identify the suspect.
NYPD Chief of Detectives Kenny described the backpack as “very distinctive” and noted that its recovery could provide crucial leads in the case, per the New York Post.
According to NYPD officials, a Tommy Hilfiger jacket and Monopoly money were found inside the suspect’s backpack.
The NYPD has revealed that a cell phone recovered near the scene of the crime is believed to be a burner device, according to News Nation.
The burner phone found near the crime scene is seen as a significant piece of evidence by law enforcement. Authorities are working to retrieve fingerprints, DNA, and other clues from the device, as it may provide insights into the suspect’s communications and activities before the shooting. Even though it is considered a disposable phone, there is potential for it to yield critical information once it is unlocked
In addition to the burner phone, other items were left at the scene, such as shell casings with the words “deny,” “depose,” and “defend” inscribed on them.
