- On December 4, 2024, Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was shot and killed in New York City. The attack occurred in the early hours of the morning outside Thompson's home as he was leaving for work. The perpetrator, who according to surveillance cameras was wearing dark clothing and a hood, waited inconspicuously nearby and opened fire with a pistol equipped with a silencer. Brian Thompson died from his injuries at the scene.
- In the hours after the murder, the police immediately began investigating and evaluated video surveillance and witness statements. Through the recordings and technical analysis, the suspect was soon identified as Luigi Mangione. A nationwide arrest warrant was issued and the search for Mangione began.
- On December 5th and 6th, the authorities intensified their search. Evidence suggested that Mangione had been traveling from New York toward Pennsylvania. His family expressed surprise and helplessness at the allegations in the media, as his mother had reported him missing weeks before.
- On December 9, 2024, Luigi Mangione was finally arrested in Altoona, Pennsylvania when he was recognized at a fast food restaurant. He was staying at a small motel where he had checked in under a false name. During his arrest, police seized an unregistered firearm, a silencer and a handwritten manifesto. He is said to have made the weapon himself using a 3D printer.
- Luigi Mangione's manifesto, found at the time of his arrest, contains a sharp criticism of the US healthcare system, particularly the profit-driven practices of large healthcare companies such as UnitedHealthcare. In the manifesto, Mangione expresses his contempt for the system, which he says limits access to medical care and is focused on financial gain rather than prioritizing the well-being of patients.
It must be a very special crime when media from all over the world cover thisAssassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompsonreport. Thompson himself did not play a major role on the world stage, and the alleged perpetrator, Luigi Mangione, would normally only have made it into the newspapers as a side note. But the act sparked a wave of outrage about the American healthcare system.Because this crime is different from others –This becomes particularly clear through the way the suspect is treated on social networks and the media, as well as through the victim's career path.
A Murder in New York: What is known about Luigi Mangione and Brian Thompson
A man shoots another man and is cheered for it. What is known about Luigi Mangione – and why he has so many fans.
Murder in New York: a chronology of events
More than 350 murders have occurred in New York City so far in 2024. But the crime, committed in early December, made global headlines.
Luigi Mangione and Brian Thompson: This is what is known about the alleged perpetrator and the victim
The New York police believe they have identified Luigi Nicholas Mangione as the perpetrator. The young man was born in Towson, Maryland in 1998, grew up in a distinguished family that worked in the real estate industry and was known for its social commitment. After graduating at the top of his class from Gilman School in Baltimore in 2016, he studied at the University of Pennsylvania. There he earned both a bachelor's and a master's degree in computer engineering and information science in 2020 with a focus on artificial intelligence and a minor in mathematics. Professionally, Mangione began his career as a data engineer. In the summer of 2023, he underwent spinal surgery that was necessitated by a painful illness. After that, he became increasingly withdrawn, broke off contact with his family and finally disappeared from social media. In November 2024, his mother reported him missing because she hadn't heard from him in months.
Brian Thompson was the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, one of the largest and most profitable healthcare companies in the United States. In his role as company boss, he made a significant contribution to the implementation and enforcement of business practices that focused on economic profit. This included, among other things, controversial decisions such as increasing insurance premiums, restricting services and reducing costs in the area of patient care. These measures led to criticism, particularly from patients and healthcare experts, who held the company partly responsible for social injustices and inequality in the US healthcare system. Luigi Mangione, the alleged perpetrator, apparently saw Thompson as a symbolic figure for the abuses and what he saw as the inhumane structures within the profit-oriented healthcare system.
Luigi Mangione is celebrated on social networks
The murder of Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealthcare, by Luigi Mangione has sparked a controversial debate in the United States that goes far beyond the crime itself. While the brutality of the crime and criticism of the US healthcare system dominate the public discussion, another phenomenon plays a conspicuous role: the way the media and society treat Luigi Mangione under the keywordPretty Privilege –the unconscious advantage that attractive people often enjoy. Luigi Mangione, a young, handsome Ivy League graduate with an impeccable academic resume, is portrayed by many media outlets in a way that gives him a certain bonus through his appearance. Instead of presenting him primarily as a possible perpetrator and murderer, reports often focus on his previous brilliance, his successes and the tragic circumstances that are said to have driven him to this crime. The impression is that Mangione is portrayed as a victim of circumstance, while the perspective of the victim - Brian Thompson - is often pushed into the background. In addition, women in particular are attracted to the young man.
Kim Kardashian, who often advocates for criminals, is tagged hundreds of times asking her to represent Mangione and then make him a model in her campaign. Especially on social media, critics say that Luigi Mangione's attractiveness and background lead to a milder perception of the crime. Olive green jackets with hoods and eye-catching chest pockets are currently a hit in American department stores, as that's what Mangione was wearing when he was filmed doing the crime. If the perpetrator had been someone who did not fit into the current ideal of beauty or social norms, the argument goes, the reporting would have been harsher, more judgmental and less empathetic. Supporters of this criticism see the media reaction as a sign of deep-rooted social prejudices. They accuse the media of attributing to Mangione a certain "humanity" that is often denied to other perpetrators - especially those who come from less privileged backgrounds or do not meet external appearance standards. At the same time, they point out that the victims of such acts, like Brian Thompson in this case, often become mere supporting characters in the public narrative. The Mangione case has not only triggered a debate about violence and the healthcare system in the USA, but also about the way in which society and the media treat perpetrators differently depending on their appearance and social status. While some see Luigi Mangione as a symbol of a flawed system that drives individuals to despair, others warn against using Pretty Privilege to trivialize an act that ultimately cost a person his life.
What happens next with the Luigi Mangione case?
The case of Luigi Mangione, the alleged murderer of Brian Thompson, is at an early stage. Mangione was arrested on December 9, 2024 in Altoona, Pennsylvania. An initial extradition hearing was held on December 10, 2024 to New York, where he will be charged with Thompson's murder. Further hearings are scheduled for December 23, 2024. Mangione's attorney, Karen Friedman Agnifilo, is an experienced criminal defense attorney who previously served as a prosecutor. She is known for her work in high-profile cases. Agnifilo is also with Alex Spiro, the lawyer forSean „Diddy“ Combs, married, which attracts additional media attention. Mangione remains in custody pending a decision on extradition.
