Update: On December 17, Luigi Mangione was officially indicted on charges of second-degree murder, murder as an act of terrorism, and criminal possession of a weapon. The killing of Thompson was described as ¨pre-meditated and brazen” by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.
In the early morning of December 4, Brian Thompson, CEO of the American health insurance company UnitedHealthcare, was shot and killed while walking down the street in New York City. UnitedHealthcare covers 49 million Americans. However, its claim processing and AI-powered denial system have been heavily criticized, resulting in many being unable to access necessary medical care. Thompson’s family claimed that he had received many death threats since becoming CEO of the company in 2021.
The murder of Brian Thompson happened around 6:45 am on December 4, 2024. In New York, Thompson attended a UnitedHealth investors meeting and was walking toward the hotel hosting the event when the assailant shot him three times in the back and right leg. CCTV footage shows the suspect waiting for several minutes before Thompson passed him. The killer hastily fled on an e-bike, and paramedics transported Thompson to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 7:12 am.
Multiple symbolic objects were found at the site of the killing, including three bullets with the words “Delay,” “Deny,” and “Depose” written on them, which references a phase in the insurance industry that alludes to companies’ efforts to not pay out claims. Police also came across a backpack in Central Park full of paper money from the board game Monopoly. The current lead suspect is a 26-year-old man named Luigi Mangione. Mangione comes from an incredibly wealthy family in Maryland and holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania. In November 2024, Luigi’s mother reported him missing, claiming that she had not heard from her son since July, and his last known residence was in Hawaii.
Although Mangione’s motivation is currently unknown, researchers have proposed several theories. Police believe Ted Kaczynski and his Unabomber attacks inspired Mangione because of Luigi’s personal review of Industrial Society and its Future on Goodreads. In the 4-star review, Mangione claims that “when all other forms of communication fail, violence is necessary to survive.” Another potential motive for the killing comes from Luigi’s negative experience with the healthcare industry after suffering a spinal injury. Social media accounts tied to Mangione show frustration with the medical field, skepticism of doctors, and a cynical attitude towards politics.
Police arrested Luigi Mangione in Altoona, Pennsylvania five days after the shooting. While Mangione ate at a McDonald’s restaurant, an employee had called, reporting that a customer recognized him from NYPD-released images. When police arrived, they found Mangione in possession of a 3D-printed pistol similar to the one used to kill Thompson and a falsified driver’s license with the same name the killer used to check into a hostel in New York. Officers also discovered a three-page manifesto about the American healthcare system, which stated that Mangione acted alone, referenced a spiral notebook containing notes and to-do lists, and apologized for causing strife while insisting “it had to be done.”
Public reactions to the murder reiterate the constant struggle between the working class and the wealthy in America. Members of the public showed contempt towards Thompson and UnitedHealth, with some Mangione as a folk hero. A physician told The Daily Beast that “Justice should be served for the perpetrator, but Thompson’s actions as CEO resulted in widespread suffering and loss of life in the millions.” The BBC pointed out the public reaction “bridging the political divide.” Meanwhile, many healthcare corporations and politicians showed sympathy for Thompson’s family and claimed that he was a wrongful scapegoat for a flawed system. Luigi’s cousin Nino Mangione, who serves as a state delegate from Maryland, reached out to the Thompson family and encouraged others to share their prayers with them.
