'He is no hero': Pennsylvania Governor condemns Luigi Mangione’s actions amid backlash against health insurance industry
New York prosecutors have charged Luigi Mangione with the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, following his arrest in Altoona, Pennsylvania, on Monday.
Mangione, 26, was taken into custody after authorities received a tip that he had been spotted at a McDonald's in the town, The Associated Press reported. He has been charged with five counts, including one felony count of forgery and one felony count of carrying an unlicensed firearm.
According to a criminal complaint, Mangione also faces several misdemeanour charges related to tampering with records and providing false identification.
In a briefing, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro condemned Mangione's actions: "In America, we do not kill people in cold blood to resolve policy differences or express a viewpoint. He is no hero."
Widespread rage at the state of the trillion-dollar industry found an unabashed outlet in Thompson's death in recent days.
UnitedHealthcare is the insurance arm of UnitedHealth Group which has about 50 million American customers. The unit had $281.4 billion US in revenue in 2023, nearly double that of the next largest U.S. health insurer, according to the CBC.
A Facebook post from UnitedHealth Group mourning the CEO’s death featured a laughing emoji from many users, with several pointing out that the $10,000 US reward for information on Thompson's killer was less than their annual insurance deductible; others discouraged those with information on the shooter's whereabouts from phoning police, said the article.
Shapiro praised the citizen who alerted authorities, calling them "the real hero" for recognising Mangione at the fast-food restaurant, according to the reports.
At the time of his arrest, Mangione was found with a variety of items, including a passport, US$10,000 in cash, and a 3D-printed firearm.
NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny described the firearm as a "ghost gun" capable of firing 9mm rounds. These guns are untraceable and unregulated because they lack serial numbers and don't require background checks.
New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch added that Mangione was carrying a handwritten note believed to detail his motivations and mindset, though authorities have not released its contents.
Kenny said that they're still "working through the investigation," but they believe Mangione acted alone.
UnitedHealth Group said they hope Mangione's arrest "brings some relief" to Thompson's family, friends, colleagues, and other people affected by the incident.
"We thank law enforcement and will continue to work with them on this investigation. We ask that everyone respect the family's privacy as they mourn," the group said in a statement quoted by The Associated Press.
Thompson was shot in broad daylight on Wednesday last week in what authorities described as a "premeditated" attack.
