Luigi Mangione became a household name this week after being charged with the murder of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO. As previously reported, a masked man fatally shot Brian Thompson outside of a New York City Hotel on December 4.
Turns out, the NYPD and prosecutors have collected enough evidence to name Luigi as the masked suspect who used an e-bike to escape the crime scene. He has since been charged with Brian Thompson’s murder. On Tuesday (December 10), new mugshot photos surfaced of the accused.
Editor’s Note: This article is being live updated. Keep reading for everything we know about Luigi Mangione and the new developments in the case.
Evidence Police Used To Bag Luigi Mangione (Updates)
Police in Pennsylvania arrested Luigi Mangione at a McDonald’s on December 9. Luigi was at the fast food joint looking at a laptop while wearing a blue medical mask. Altoona law enforcement pulled up after a tip from an employee. Police later found a mask, a 3D-printed 9mm round ghost gun, and a 3D-printed black silencer for the weapon in his backpack, as well as lots of cash. Then, there was a three-page letter about his dislike for corporate America.
“I do apologize for any strife or traumas but it had to be done. Frankly, these parasites simply had it coming,” one line in the letter reportedly read.
Additionally, the 26-year-old had on similar clothes as the at-large masked shooter and multiple fake IDs, including one traced to the UnitedHealthcare CEO’s attacker. He was officially in custody at about 9:15 a.m. Monday morning.
As previously reported, Luigi Mangione also left a trail of evidence for NYPD officers to discover. A backpack ditched in Central Park. A cell phone ditched at a pedestrian plaza. A water bottle and protein bar wrapper from the Starbucks pit stop he made before allegedly shooting Brian Thompson. The bullets used in the attack had the words “Deny,” “Defend,” and “Depose” engraved.
According to NBC New York, investigators have also linked Luigi Mangione’s fingerprints to some found near the crime scene. However, it’s unclear which items contain the fingerprints.
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New York Gov. To Sign Extradition Request
As mentioned, Manhattan prosecutors filed to charge Luigi Mangione late Monday. Murder is not his only charge. According to TMZ, he also faces two counts of possession of a loaded firearm, possession of a forged instrument, and criminal possession of a weapon.
NY law enforcement is seeking to extradite him, and Gov. Kathy Hochul has already agreed to sign an extradition request in a press statement.
“I’m deeply grateful to the men and women of law enforcement whose efforts to solve the horrific murder of Brian Thompson led to the arrest of a suspect in Pennsylvania,” Gov. Hochul said. “I am coordinating with the District Attorney’s Office and will sign a request for a governor’s warrant to ensure this individual is tried and held accountable. Public safety is my top priority, and I’ll do everything in my power to keep the streets of New York safe.”
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What The 26-Year-Old Said In Pennsylvania Court
In Pennsylvania, he’s charged with possession of an unlicensed firearm, forgery, providing false identification to the police, and being a fugitive of justice, per the Associated Press.
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On Tuesday, he spoke at his hearing with a Pennsylvania judge. CNN reporters revealed that Luigi was selective about his comments. He confirmed his name and confirmed he’s had multiple addresses, including in Hawaii. He also claimed to have worked for three years as a data engineer until a year ago. Mangione denied using any drug use or experiencing mental health issues.
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Additionally, he clocked prosecutors on two claims, but neither involved requesting bail. He said he didn’t know where the money police found on him came from and suggested someone might’ve “planted” it. The amount was $8,000 and 2,000 in foreign currency. He also said the bag the money was in was waterproof.
Ultimately, the judge denied bail.
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Accused Man's Lawyer Stands Behind His Client
Luigi Mangione’s lawyer on Tuesday insisted that he hasn’t “seen any evidence” linking his client to UnitedHealthcare CEO’s murder. The attorney also reportedly shared that his client plans to plead not guilty to several charges in Pennsylvania and New York, per NBC News NY.
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Luigi Mangione's Family Speaks Out
As previously reported, the 26-year-old was born in Maryland and seemingly comes from a fortunate background. In the 1980s, his family reportedly purchased a country club north of Baltimore, per AP.
He also attended an elite prep school in Baltimore before graduating as valedictorian in 2016. By 2020, he had graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with his undergrad and graduate degrees in computer science.
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Luigi’s cousin Nino Mangione, a Maryland state legislator, released a family statement on the entire ordeal on X, formerly Twitter. In the Monday release, the family refused to comment on the murder or charges.
“We only know what we have read in the media. Our family is shocked and devastated by Luigi’s arrest. We offer our prayers to the family of Brian Thompson, and we ask people to pray for all involved. We are devastated by this news.”
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