A complex turn of events unfolds in the investigation of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson's murder as details emerge about the suspect's prior missing person status.
According to Fox News, a San Francisco police investigator identified Luigi Mangione from a missing person poster and informed the FBI about this connection four days before the suspect's arrest at a Pennsylvania McDonald's.
The missing person report was filed by Mangione's mother on November 18, approximately two weeks before the fatal shooting of Thompson outside the New York Hilton Midtown hotel. The report indicated that she had last communicated with her son around July 1, and he was believed to be working at True Car, though the provided work address was found to be permanently closed.
The San Francisco Chronicle's sources revealed that local police made the connection between the wanted suspect and Mangione before his high-profile arrest. This information contradicts earlier statements from New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, who had indicated that Mangione was not previously known to law enforcement.
FBI NYC sources confirmed receiving the tip from the San Francisco Police Department regarding Mangione's possible identity following the December 4 shooting. The information proved valuable in the investigation that led to his eventual arrest.
The missing person poster, which has since been obtained by news outlets, featured a smiling photograph of Mangione and was distributed to various law enforcement agencies as part of standard protocol.
Mangione was apprehended in Altoona, Pennsylvania, where he currently faces charges of forgery and carrying a firearm without a license. His arrest came after five days on the run following Thompson's murder.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg indicated that Mangione might waive his right to an extradition hearing, though his office remains prepared for continued contestation. The suspect is currently held at SCI Huntingdon pending his attorney's filing of a habeas corpus petition.
During his court appearance, Mangione made a notable outburst. NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny shared this statement regarding the investigation:
We have no indication that he was ever a client of United Healthcare, but he does make mention that it is the fifth-largest corporation in America, which would make it the largest health care organization in America. So, that's possibly why he targeted that company. He had prior knowledge that the conference was taking place on that date at that location.
Police investigations revealed that Mangione may have targeted UnitedHealthcare due to broader grievances with the healthcare industry rather than personal experience with the company. Neither Mangione nor his mother were UnitedHealthcare clients.
The suspect's possible motivation might be connected to a severe back injury he sustained in July 2023. Kenny explained the potential connection:
It seems that he had an accident that caused him to go to the emergency room back in July of 2023, and that it was a life-changing injury. He posted X-rays of screws being inserted into his spine. So, the injury that he suffered was, was a life-changing, life-altering injury, and that's what may have put him on this path.
The shooting was captured on CCTV, showing Mangione allegedly waiting outside the hotel where UnitedHealthcare was holding its annual investor conference before approaching Thompson and shooting him at close range.
Luigi Mangione, a 26-year-old Ivy League graduate, was reported missing in San Francisco on November 18, 2024, by his concerned mother. Two weeks later, he allegedly shot and killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City on December 4. As Mangione remains in custody, authorities continue to piece together the events that led to Thompson's death while awaiting potential extradition to face murder charges in New York.
