The man suspected of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside a New York City hotel has officially been charged with murder. Luigi Mangione, 26, was taken into custody earlier this week in Pennsylvania on forgery and illegal gun charges, and the New York Police Department (NYPD) confirmed that he is now facing a murder charge, according to court documents.
Mangione’s arrest and subsequent identification were announced during a press conference on Monday by NYPD officials and New York City Mayor Eric Adams.
“He matches the description of the identification we’ve been looking for. He’s also in possession of several items that we believe will connect him to this incident,” Mayor Adams said, highlighting the significance of traditional investigative efforts. “How did we do it? Good old fashioned police work.”
Mangione, who had been traveling across Pennsylvania following the fatal shooting, was eventually tracked down after being recognized at a McDonald’s restaurant in Altoona earlier on Monday.
According to NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, the critical breakthrough came from an observant employee who reported the suspect to police.
“The suspect was in a McDonald’s and was recognized by an employee who then called local police. Responding officers questioned the suspect, who was acting suspiciously and was carrying multiple fraudulent IDs, as well as a U.S. passport,” Tisch explained.
Upon further investigation, officers discovered a firearm with a suppressor on Mangione, which NYPD officials believe matches the weapon used in the murder. They also recovered clothing, including a mask, similar to what was seen on surveillance footage of the suspect.
“Additionally, officers recovered a handwritten document that speaks to both his motivation and mindset,” Tisch added.
The document, described as three pages long, may provide insight into the circumstances leading up to the tragic incident. Authorities also noted the discovery of a possible “ghost gun,” an untraceable firearm, which Mangione allegedly had on his person at the time of his arrest.
Mangione had reportedly been on the move after the shooting, traveling from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh and then to Altoona. Before his capture, surveillance images had placed him at a Manhattan hostel, where he used a fake New Jersey ID to check in without a mask. He was later spotted at the Port Authority bus terminal in Washington Heights, where investigators believe he boarded a bus to leave New York.
The murder charge has now triggered the extradition process, which could take days or weeks to return Mangione to New York to face justice.
The case has captured national attention, not only for the high-profile nature of the victim but also for the dramatic series of events leading to the suspect’s capture. Mangione’s movements across state lines, the discovery of fraudulent IDs, and the handwritten document all paint a picture of an individual evading capture while leaving a trail of critical evidence behind.
With the murder charge filed, the NYPD’s methodical investigation appears to have brought the case to a turning point. As Mayor Adams aptly put it, the outcome so far is the result of relentless and “good old fashioned police work.”