Who is Luigi Mangione?

Luigi Mangione, 26, was identified as the main suspect in the murder of Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealthCare, the largest health insurance company in the U.S. Mangione was arrested by U.S. authorities and is currently in custody.

The crime took place on Wednesday, December 4, when a man shot Thompson outside a hotel in Manhattan, New York.

Who is Luigi Mangione?
Luigi Mangione was arrested on December 9 in Altoona, Pennsylvania, after a McDonald’s employee considered him suspicious.

During the arrest, the police found a homemade gun that matched the one used in the crime, as well as a silencer and fake identification documents.

“He is also in possession of several items that we believe will connect him to this incident,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams during a press conference.

A manifesto found with Mangione reportedly included statements such as, “These parasites deserved it” and “I apologize for any conflict and trauma, but it had to be done,” according to CNN.

Before the crime, Mangione lived in Honolulu, Hawaii. He had an impressive academic background, being the valedictorian of the Gilman School’s Class of 2016 in Baltimore, Maryland, and later studying at the prestigious Penn State University, where he earned a master’s degree in computer engineering.

He has not been formally charged with any crime yet but is expected to face weapon possession charges in both New York and Pennsylvania, said Joe Kenny, the head of the city’s detective division.

“The police recovered a handwritten document detailing his mindset and motivations,” New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch confirmed.

In a review posted on Goodreads and cited by The New York Times, Mangione stated that “violence may be the path to political change,” referencing a book by Ted Kaczynski, the infamous anarcho-primitivist domestic terrorist known as the Unabomber.

In a matter of seconds, Mangione gained thousands of followers on his Twitter account, which now boasts over 30,000 followers.

What Happened?
On the morning of December 4, Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealthCare, was shot and killed by a hooded man in Manhattan, New York. The crime occurred as Thompson was arriving for a company event.

UnitedHealthCare is the largest health insurance company in the U.S., with estimated revenues of $455 billion for 2024, or about $2 trillion. Thompson led a company that has often faced criticism for denying coverage and medical procedures. These practices have been seen as emblematic of the failures of the predominantly private healthcare system in the U.S.

In 2023, UnitedHealthCare was involved in a class-action lawsuit filed by patients who died after treatment denials. The company used an artificial intelligence tool to evaluate claims, but investigations revealed that the technology had a 90% error rate, which the company was aware of. Despite this, the system remained in place, as it was estimated that only 0.2% of patients would appeal denials.

This was not the first controversial incident involving the company. In 2008, UnitedHealthCare was fined $173 million for over 900,000 violations of the California Unfair Insurance Practices Act.

On social media, many users expressed criticism of the company’s actions, with some sarcastic remarks such as, “Pre-authorization is required for thoughts and prayers,” poking fun at UnitedHealthCare. Another, more direct comment said, “Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealth who made his fortune denying healthcare to humans with families, absolutely deserved worse than he got.”

The Connection to Mangione’s Motivation
Before the crime, Luigi Mangione expressed controversial opinions about radical political change. In his critique of a book by Ted Kaczynski, he commented that “violence could be the path to political change.” This may shed light on the potential link between his actions and the healthcare system, which he might have seen as flawed and unjust.

How Mangione’s Story Reflects Failures in the U.S. Healthcare System
The murder of Thompson, while an extreme act of violence, can be interpreted as a manifestation of frustration with the U.S. healthcare system, which is frequently criticized for its high costs, lack of access, and impersonal decisions driven by algorithms. The stories of patients who lost their lives due to treatment denials, such as those brought against UnitedHealthCare, fuel this sense of anger and frustration.

Conclusion
Luigi Mangione’s case is just the tip of the iceberg in a much deeper discussion about the ethics and failures of the U.S. healthcare system. While Brian Thompson’s murder cannot be justified, it brings to the forefront crucial questions about how healthcare giants handle human lives in pursuit of profit. Now more than ever, it’s essential to reflect on the necessary reforms to ensure that healthcare is a right, not a privilege.

Now that you know more about the case that shocked the United States and the context of the healthcare system, how about learning more about how you can contribute to positive change? Discover how you can invest in solutions that help improve access to and the quality of healthcare by starting with Click here and change your life! By clicking this link, you’ll gain access to an innovative platform that’s transforming the way people manage their medical care. Don’t miss out on this opportunity!