Authorities have identified Luigi Mangione, a 26-year-old tech whiz from Towson, Maryland, as the person of interest in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Mangione was taken into custody Monday morning at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, following an intense manhunt. He has not yet been charged.
A former Ivy League student with a history of anti-capitalist views, the person of interest is alleged to have carried a manifesto outlining grievances against the healthcare industry, including criticism of its profits and alleged unethical practices, sources said. He is believed to have acted alone, though it remains unclear if he has made any statements to investigators.
Law enforcement sources describe Mangione as deeply critical of the U.S. healthcare system and an advocate for anti-capitalist and climate-change causes, based on his online activity. His Goodreads account features a range of quotes he admired, from Socrates to Bruce Lee — and Ted Kaczynski, the infamous “Unabomber,” known for his violent attacks on what he viewed as industrial and societal corruption.
Mangione’s background paints a picture of a high-achieving student. A 2016 valedictorian of the Gilman School in Baltimore, where annual tuition exceeds $40,000, Mangione played soccer and expressed ambitions of pursuing a degree in artificial intelligence. In a graduation interview with the Baltimore Fishbowl, he mentioned plans to focus on computer science and cognitive science at the University of Pennsylvania.
The killing of Thompson, who was shot outside a Manhattan hotel last week, remains under investigation. Mangione’s potential connection to the crime has drawn attention due to his apparent anti-establishment ideology and disdain for the healthcare sector.
