The Manhattan to Altoona Manhunt: Luigi Mangione charged in Midtown murder of UnitedHealth CEO

New York prosecutors charged Luigi Mangione, a 26-year-old former tech worker and Ivy League graduate, with the murder of UnitedHealth CEO Brian Thompson.

The execution occurred outside a Midtown Manhattan hotel early last Wednesday, where the late Thomspon was on his way to an investor meeting.

Following a multi-state search, Mangione was apprehended at a McDonald's in Altoona, Pennsylvania.

Police believe Mangione traveled by bus from New York to Pennsylvania shortly after the murder. Surveillance footage captured the gunman using a pistol with a suppressor to shoot Thompson outside the Manhattan hotel. The murder, described by investigators as a "symbolic takedown," has been linked to Mangione's grievances against the healthcare industry.

Mangione's arrest on Monday night came after a McDonald's employee in Altoona recognized him and alerted the police. According to local officers, when approached by law enforcement, Mangione was seated in the restaurant using a silver laptop. Initially, he provided a New Jersey driver's license under the alias Mark Rosario but became visibly agitated when questioned about his recent travels to New York.

During a search of Mangione's belongings, officers discovered a pistol and silencer, both produced using 3-D printing technology. The weapon's magazine contained six 9-millimeter rounds. Additionally, police found a handwritten three-page manifesto highlighting Mangione’s "ill will toward corporate America," according to NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny.

Mangione faces multiple charges, including first-degree murder, felony weapons possession, and forgery. Pennsylvania authorities have also brought charges against him. The timing of his trial in New York depends on the outcome of his extradition hearing, scheduled for Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. in Pennsylvania.

Brian Thompson, chief executive of UnitedHealthcare, was a prominent figure in the healthcare sector. His murder has sent shockwaves through the industry and raised concerns about safety for corporate leaders.

Mangione remains in custody in Pennsylvania as the legal process unfolds.

Annelise Hanson is a second-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, email amh8563@psu.edu.