The man accused of murdering UnitedHealth executive Brian Thompson in a shooting outside a Manhattan hotel has been arrested, New York City officials confirmed on Monday.
The suspect, 26-year-old Luigi Mangione, was apprehended in Altoona, Pennsylvania, after being recognized by someone at a McDonald’s who believed he resembled the shooter. Police discovered Mangione with a firearm and silencer matching the weapon used in Thompson’s murder, as well as clothing and a mask similar to those worn by the assailant. Mangione also had fake IDs, including one matching the fraudulent identification the killer used to check into a Manhattan hostel before the shooting.
A handwritten document was also found that could provide insight into Mangione’s motives and mindset, according to Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch. Mangione has been arrested on firearm-related charges, with New York detectives traveling to Pennsylvania for further questioning.
Thompson, 50, was shot in the back early Wednesday morning outside a Manhattan hotel. He appeared to be deliberately targeted, though a clear motive has not been disclosed. Words such as “deny,” “defend,” and “depose” were found carved into shell casings at the scene, referencing a 2010 book critical of the insurance industry.
Following the murder, the suspect fled the scene, riding a bike into Central Park and later taking a taxi to a bus station, from where he is believed to have left the city. Thompson, a father of two, had been attending an investor conference in New York.
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