The man charged with the public execution of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson last week in New York City raises new questions.
Luigi Mangione, 26, was born and raised in Baltimore and graduated from the elite Gilman School as class valedictorian before enrolling at the University of Pennsylvania to pursue an engineering degree.
However, Mangione is now at the center of a controversial investigation involving a 3D-printed ghost gun, a three-page handwritten note allegedly critical of corporate America, and the death of a prominent healthcare executive.
A former classmate of Mangione’s told Scripps News that he was startled to learn that he was being probed for murder, claiming that Mangione never demonstrated the ability to do such a horrific act while they were in school together.
“[He was] not a problematic kid in high school,” Minjun Kim explained. “He never got into trouble, and he wasn’t looking for attention. He’s being represented as a radical, and he’s not the type of guy to carry that reputation.”
Mangione was detained Monday inside a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania after police received a tip about a guy who matched the description of the person wanted in connection with Thompson’s murder.
According to the police report, Mangione originally presented officers with a phony ID. It had the same name that Mangione used at a New York hostel before allegedly killing Thompson, according to police.
When asked about the bogus ID, authorities said Mangione revealed his real name. He was then put under arrest.
Police said they discovered a pistol in Mangione’s rucksack with a metal slide, barrel, and plastic handle. They also discovered a plastic silencer, six 9mm bullets in a Glock magazine, and a single loose round.
Authorities suspect the pistol was a “ghost gun” created with a 3D printer. While authorities have yet to establish a specific motivation, notes discovered after Mangione’s arrest may provide insight into his thoughts. NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny stated that the papers revealed Mangione harbored “ill will toward corporate America.”
Mangione has been charged with murder, as well as guns and forgery crimes. He is currently being imprisoned without bail at a state jail in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania.
Mangione’s family, who are well-known in Maryland, issued a statement Monday night, saying they are “shocked” and “saddened” by the arrest.
“We express our sympathies to Brian Thompson’s family and urge that everyone pray for those affected. “We are devastated by this news,” the message says.
Reference: Former classmate of man arrested for murder of health care CEO says he’s shocked