Shell casings found at the scene of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson were a match for the 3D-printed gun found on Luigi Mangione, the New York Police Department commissioner said Wednesday. The casings, which had the words "delay," "deny" and "depose" written on them, a likely critique of the healthcare system. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said that Mangione's fingerprints also match a water bottle found near the scene of the Midtown Manhattan shooting. Mangione was also found with a notebook outlining plans for the shooting, law enforcement officials said. The notebook reportedly included details about targeting executives at a "bean-counter" conference, which Mangione referred to as a "parasitic bean-counter convention," per The New York Times. One other passage read, "What do you do? You w[h]ack the CEO at the annual parasitic bean-counter convention. It's targeted, precise, and doesn't risk innocents," the officials said. The shooting occurred on December 4 when Thompson arrived early at a Hilton hotel in New York to prepare for a UnitedHealthcare investors' event. Mangione is currently fighting extradition to New York and has been denied bail.

Newsweek's live blog is closed.

08:29 PM EST

Manhattan DA says he's confident the UnitedHealthcare CEO suspect will be brought to justice

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said today that he's confident the UnitedHealthcare CEO suspect will swiftly be brought to justice.

Luigi Mangione is fighting extradition to New York and is planning to plead not guilty, according to his lawyer.

But Bragg told ABC News on Wednesday, "we would not charge the person if we didn't think it was the person, and we're prepared to go forward and we're on the path to accountability and justice."

Mangione is charged with one count of second-degree murder, two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, one count of second-degree possession of a forged document, and one count of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon.

When asked why the 26-year-old had not been charged with first degree murder, Bragg explained that murder one required "delineated circumstances, including, for example, a serial murder, murder of a witness, murder of a police officer."

But he said further charges may be added as the investigation continues.

08:05 PM EST

UPenn professor apologizes for praising UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting

University of Pennsylvania professor, Julia Alekseyeva, had posted a TikTok which appeared to celebrate suspect Luigi Mangione as the "icon we all need and deserve" after he allegedly shot and killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

She posted another video, which also appeared to refer to Mangione - a 2020 graduate of Penn - where she said she had "never been prouder to be a professor at the University of P3nnsylvania."

Alekseyeva has now walked back those celebrations and apologized for her "inappropriate" comments.

"These were completely insensitive and inappropriate, and I retract them wholly,'' Alekseyeva said on X.

"I do not condone violence and I am genuinely regretful of any harm the posts have caused."

07:54 PM EST

Amazon Pharmacy chief admits U.S. health system 'needs to be better'

Amazon Pharmacy Chief Medical Officer Vin Gupta that the U.S. health system "needs to be better," but said that was no excuse for the murder of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

"Our health system needs to be better," Gupta told Reuters. "There's a lot of things that should cause a lot of outrage.

"It's also true that that (killing) should not have happened. There cannot be this false moral equivalence in our discourse."

He added that that there were concerns that Mangione could inspire copycat killers.

"Are there going to be copycats? That is unacceptable. We need people to speak out that false moral equivalences must not be accepted," he added.

07:41 PM EST

NYC Mayor says Mangione will be prosecuted 'to the fullest extent'

New York City Mayor Eric Adams said today that Luigi Mangione will be prosecuted "to the fullest extent of the law."

Adams was speaking at a public safety news conference Wednesday, when he thanked the detectives who worked on the UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting.

Without referring to Mangione by name, Adams added that, "We look forward to prosecuting him to the fullest extent of the law."

Manhattan prosecutors unveiled a warrant that reveals Mangione is charged with second-degree murder, two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second-degree, criminal possession of a forged instrument and criminal possession of a weapon in the third-degree

07:25 PM EST

Dating was not possible for Mangione due to back problems, says roommate

Luigi Mangione's roommate and the founder of Honolulu-based co-living space Surfbreak, said that the 26-year-old was regularly in severe pain from back issues.

"His spine was kind of misaligned," R.J. Martin told The New York Times. "He said his lower vertebrae were almost like a half-inch off, and I think it pinched a nerve."

Due to the pain, Martin added that Mangione "knew that dating and being physically intimate with his back condition wasn't possible."

Despite being in pain, Mangione was an ideal community member who was upbeat and eager to give back, Martin added.

Mangione left Hawaii and received spinal surgery in 2023. Martin said Mangione texted him photos of the back surgery.

The friends exchanged sporadic texts over subsequent months but never saw each other in person after that.

07:18 PM EST

How friends, family describe UnitedHealth Shooting suspect

Luigi Mangione's friends and family members are stunned that the 26-year-old Ivy League grad is the suspected shooter of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

A handful of Mangione's friends have spoken to the media about him following his arrest on Monday and subsequent murder charge, saying the Mangione they knew was a smart, quiet intellectual who struggled with back pain after a 2023 spinal surgery.

In their first and only statement at the time of publication, Mangione's family said Tuesday, "Unfortunately, we cannot comment on news reports regarding Luigi Mangione. We only know what we have read in the media."

Read in full from Erin Keller and Nick Mordowanec on Newsweek.

06:58 PM EST

Police investigating when Luigi Mangione's family realized he was the suspect

Police are investigating when Luigi Mangione's family realized he was the suspect wanted in the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Operations Kaz Daughtry was asked if Mangione's family had recognized him and contacted the authorities, during Wednesday's Morning Joe.

Daughtry did not confirm if the Mangione family had been in touch but said that police are still going through the hundreds of tips they'd received since the shooting.

"But thank God for the customer that was in the McDonalds," Daughtry added, referring to the employee who called the police after spotting Mangione.

06:53 PM EST

Bag of bullets found in Central Park ruled out as connected to Mangione investigation

The bag of bullets found by a dog walker in Central Park on Tuesday are not connected to the murder of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson, The New York Post reports.

The bullets in the Ziploc bag reportedly had words inscribed on them, similar to the bullet casings found at the scene of the shooting last week.

However, law enforcement officials told the Post that the bullets found on Tuesday were of a different caliber than the ones used in the shooting.

06:08 PM EST

Mangione's former roommate calls him 'absolutely a nonviolent person'

Former classmates and roommates of Luigi Mangione are still in shock after he was named a suspect in the killing of Brian Thompson.

Former roommate R.J. Martin told CNN that Mangione "never once talked about guns, never once talked about violence,

"He was absolutely a nonviolent person, as far as I could tell," he added.

Former high school classmate Freddie Leatherbury said that, "this is one of the last people you'd think would do something like this."

05:38 PM EST

Brian Thompson's friends and colleagues paint picture of devoted family man

Friends and family of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson remembered the 50-year-old father of two as he was laid to rest during a private funeral service in Maple Grove, Minnesota on Monday, the same day that the arrest of his alleged assassin drew the nation's attention.

As Luigi Mangione was being detained in Pennsylvania amid an outpouring of online support for the suspected killer, those close to Thompson quietly mourned his loss at a Lutheran church in his Minnesota hometown.

Thompson was fatally shot outside a Hilton hotel in midtown Manhattan as he was on his way to an investor conference the morning of December 4. Despite the shock of the brazen public execution, his death has spurred widespread anger at the health insurance industry and its top officials, with many even defending the gunman as a folk hero who was justified in his violence.

But those who were close to Thompson during his life say the picture being painted of the 50-year-old husband and father does not reflect the man they knew.

05:13 PM EST

Dog walker finds bag of bullets 'with words inscribed on them' in Central Park

The NYPD are investigating if a Ziplock bag of bullets, discovered in Central Park by a dog walker yesterday, are linked to the assassination of UnitedHealth CEO Brian Thompson.

The person was walking their dog in the park, near East 81st and 85th Street, when they saw the bag in the bushes, Fox 5 reports.

They told Fox 5 that the bullets had writing on them.

Bullet casings found at the scene of the fatal shooting of Thompson also had words written on them, including the phrases, "deny", "defend", and "depose."

04:51 PM EST

Penn responds to professor celebrating UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting

The University of Pennsylvania said an assistant professor retracted her comments on the shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson after agreeing they were "insensitive."

Thompson, 50, was killed outside a Hilton hotel in Midtown Manhattan on December 4. The suspect fled the scene following the shooting.

On Monday, 26-year-old Luigi Mangione was taken into custody at a McDonald's in Altoona, Pennsylvania, in connection with the shooting. He was later charged with second-degree murder in New York. He is also facing multiple charges in Pennsylvania.

Julia Alekseyeva, an assistant professor of English and cinema and media studies, reportedly made several social media posts about the incident.

Read in full from Jenna Sundel on Newsweek.

04:28 PM EST

Why Mangione is not like the Unabomber, according to an ex-FBI profiler

Many have been quick to point out the similarities between Luigi Mangione and Unabomber Ted Kaczynski.

Both were smart; Kaczynski went to Harvard and got a doctorate by the age of 24, Mangione was the valedictorian at his private school, got a masters in engineering at UPenn and was head counselor for a pre-collegiate studies program at Stanford University.

And both were, allegedly, killers. Kaczynski pleaded guilty to multiple bombing attacks after his arrest in 1996 and spent the rest of his life in prison.

Mangione even appeared to be a fan of the Unabomber and his book.

But former FBI criminal profiler Candice DeLong, who met Kaczynski, said that the pair were not as similar on closer inspection.

"Ted Kaczynski was a very disturbed man and he was disturbed long before he started killing people," she told CNN.

She said that Kaczynski had been left forever changed after he was taken away from his mother for three weeks while he received hospital treatment at nine months old.

"Now, the young man Mr Mangione, that – as far as we know – is not the case."

She admitted that both were smart and seemed to have a promising start.

"Yes, Mr. Kransinski went to Harvard when he was 16. Yes, he went to university in Michigan and got a doctorate when he was 24," she said.

"But people that knew him at those schools describe him as a loner. Sometimes he would not come out of his dorm room for days. He was disheveled and unkempt. That sounds like someone suffering at least one mental disorder.

"For Mangione, and I am not diagnosing him, we look at his stellar history, and what we are saying about him now, what we are learning about him now. It's a head scratcher. What happened?"

03:57 PM EST

Mangione may have been driven by chronic back pain

As investigators delve into the motive behind the killing, many online observers speculate that Mangione's chronic back pain may have played a role. His social media activity and personal history suggest that pain management issues could have deeply impacted his life. Mangione had shared details about his back problems, including undergoing surgery in 2023 to address a misaligned spine. His social media posts include references to books on chronic back pain, and his X (formerly Twitter) profile features an image of a spine with surgical hardware, possibly indicating his own condition.

Friends of Mangione have also spoken about the toll his chronic pain took on him. R.J. Martin, a close friend, recounted how debilitating the pain was, preventing Mangione from participating in activities like surfing and making it difficult for him to maintain personal relationships. Martin noted that Mangione had planned a major back surgery and had hoped it would alleviate his condition.

This tragic incident has drawn attention to the broader issue of chronic pain, which affects millions of Americans and is often linked to significant mental and emotional distress. With Mangione's background in mind, some are questioning whether his frustrations with his own health and the healthcare system may have contributed to the fatal event.

03:56 PM EST

Senators turn screws on health care industry as CEO shooting fuels scrutiny

Senators Josh Hawley and Elizabeth Warren are teaming up on a bill that targets pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) as the health care industry faces growing scrutiny following last week's shooting of UnitedHealthcare's CEO.

Hawley, a Missouri Republican, and Warren, a Massachusetts Democrat, are introducing the Patients Before Monopolies Act to "prohibit joint ownership of PBMs and pharmacies." This ownership, they argue, allows health care corporations to "enrich themselves at the expense of patients and independent pharmacies," according to a press release.

The bipartisan bill is being introduced in the House by Representatives Jake Auchincloss, a Massachusetts Democrat, and Diana Harshbarger, a Tennessee Republican.

Read in full from Andrew Stanton on Newsweek.

03:51 PM EST

Watch the man who saw Mangione at McDonald's speak to reporters

The man who saw Mangione at McDonald's spoke to reporters earlier this week.

"I thought he was kidding. You know what I mean?" Larry, who declined to give reporters a last name, said.

03:45 PM EST

Luigi Mangione's middle school teacher says 'unthinkable' he could be behind shooting

Luigi Mangione's middle school teacher says she was still in shock after learning that he is suspected of murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

Gilman School teacher Liz Sesler-Beckman said she remembered Mangione, now 26, as a "kind, well-liked person," and was never a student that she had to worry about.

"I just can't imagine what drove him to this," she told WICU. "It just doesn't make any sense.

"It's like a cognitive dissonance between the person that we all knew and the person who would commit such a heinous crime," she added.

She said she was devastated for the victim's family as well as Mangione's family and the Gilman school community.

"It's just unthinkable that he would resort to that kind of violence," she added.

03:35 PM EST

Marjorie Taylor Greene expresses concern that Mangione could inspire new left-wing political movement

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene expressed concern on Tuesday that Luigi Mangione could spark a new left-wing "political movement."

Mangione, 26, was arrested Monday in Altoona, Pennsylvania, after a five-day manhunt. He faces murder charges in New York following Thompson's death, and a manifesto reportedly found with Mangione suggests his anger at the health insurance industry may have motivated the crime.

"I've been watching this unfold, and I believe it's the beginning of a political movement," Greene said during an interview with Real America's Voice. "What I'm more concerned about is we've seen the left push for socialized medicine for years, you know?"

"[Progressive independent Senator] Bernie Sanders had Medicare For All," she continued. "I hope this doesn't turn into where they take this guy they're praising...and make him some sort of hero that they all worship and then pick up the mantra and go after other people."

However, Mangione's political views remain unclear, with support for him largely focusing on his appearance rather than his actions.

03:24 PM EST

Could Luigi Mangione reaction spark copycat shootings?

The shooting of Brian Thompson sparked two very separate reactions around his killer: a manhunt and admiration from certain parts of the internet, with the latter creating concern among security experts that this killing might inspire copycat events.

When a person is gunned down in broad daylight, people do not usually have praise ready for the gunman, but the killing of the CEO of a health insurance company elicited less sympathy and more memes from certain members of the general public, including at least 90,000 people reacting to a tribute post to Thompson on Facebook with "laughing" emojis.

This reaction led security professionals to tell Newsweek that the current environment is dangerous for CEOs and C-suite members.

Thompson was fatally shot by as he walked alone to his company's annual investor conference in Manhattan at the New York Hilton Midtown at 6:44 a.m. on December 4. While his alleged killer, Luigi Mangione, is in custody, the jokes and the praise have not stopped, with people online making up fake alibis for him, saying the police should "free him," and even review-bombing the McDonald's where he was apprehended by police as a show of support.

Read the full story by Sophie Clark on Newsweek.

03:09 PM EST

Who is Luigi Mangione's mother? Kathleen Mangione reported son missing

Luigi Mangione, the 26-year-old suspect in the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, was reported missing to police by his mother last month, according to local newspapers.

Kathleen Mangione made the report to the San Francisco Police Department on November 18, The San Francisco Standard reported on Monday, citing an unnamed police source "with knowledge of the case."

The San Francisco Chronicle reported that Luigi Mangione's mother told police that her son hadn't been heard from since July, citing an unnamed police source.

According to the Chronicle, she believed her son had been working for TrueCar, a car-buying website, in the city. However, a TrueCar spokesperson has confirmed that Mangione has not worked for the company since 2023.

The San Francisco Police Department has been contacted for comment via email.

Read the full story by Khaleda Rahman on Newsweek.

03:07 PM EST

High school friend of Mangione says he didn't recognize him as suspect

A high school friend of Luigi Mangione, the man accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, said he didn't immediately recognize him as the suspect in a national manhunt.

Fred Leatherbury, who attended the private Gilman School in Baltimore with Mangione, explained on Fox & Friends that his initial instinct was to dismiss any connection to the case.

"When something so large happens nationally, I automatically disregard that it could be anybody I know," Leatherbury said. He recalled that Mangione's distinct curly hair stood out to him, but noted that in the security footage, the suspect was often seen wearing a hat or hood, which made it harder to identify.

He also mentioned that, with many Italians living in New York, he didn't make the connection based on the suspect's facial features alone. "It wasn't a judgment I was rushing to make," he added.

02:55 PM EST

Luigi Mangione's fingerprints match those found near crime scene: NYPD

Luigi Mangione's fingerprints appear to match those found near the scene where UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was fatally shot last week, the New York City Police Department said Wednesday.

NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said at a news conference that police were "able to match the person of interest fingerprints" with prints that were found on a water bottle and protein bar wrapper found near the crime scene.

She added that shell casings recovered at the scene matched the gun that Mangione had on him when he was detained in Altoona, Pennsylvania, on Monday.

This is the first forensic evidence that appears to link Mangione, 26, to the crime scene.

Thompson was fatally shot last week while he was on his way to an annual investor conference at the Hilton hotel in midtown Manhattan. Police launched a nationwide manhunt for the assailant in the days after and released photos of the suspect to the public.

Mangione was first identified as a person of interest in the killing when police in Altoona detained him after an employee at McDonald's noticed Mangione and thought he looked similar to the suspect. He was indicted on forgery and weapons charges in Pennsylvania shortly after, and later that evening, New York prosecutors filed a murder charge against Mangione.

Read the full story by Sonam Sheth on Newsweek.

02:43 PM EST

Mangione's mother reportedly filed missing person's report last month

Luigi Mangione, the 26-year-old man accused in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, was reported missing by his mother, Kathleen Mangione, to the San Francisco Police Department on November 18.

The details surrounding his disappearance remain unclear, and it is not known whether Luigi had been in San Francisco at the time. According to sources, Kathleen made the report, though there is no indication of her reasons for believing he was in the city, The San Francisco Standard reported.

02:35 PM EST

Was Luigi Mangione missing before Brian Thompson shooting? What we know

Luigi Mangione, the 26-year-old man charged in last week's fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, appeared to have cut off contact with family and friends in the months before the killing.

On Monday, police arrested Mangione at a McDonald's in Altoona, Pennsylvania. He was being sought as a "person of interest" in the December 4 shooting of Thompson in Manhattan last Wednesday, as the CEO approached a Hilton hotel to attend a meeting with investors.

Mangione was later charged with murder in New York and is facing four other charges, including forgery and possession of a firearm. He was ordered held without bail and did not enter a plea.

The shooting captivated the nation, both for the brutality of the crime and for the anger and frustration many people expressed about the health care insurance system. Some Americans even responded with indifference to the shooting, citing their negative experiences with UnitedHealthcare or other health insurance companies.

Details about Mangione's background, family and education have continued to emerge following his arrest. Many details about his alleged motive remain unconfirmed by police, though armchair analysts have speculated about what may have led to the shooting, including reports that he had suffered from back pain, for which he underwent surgery in 2023.

Read the full story by Andrew Stanton on Newsweek.

02:28 PM EST

New York prosecution should take precedence over Pennsylvania charges, attorney says

The prosecution of Mangione should take priority over additional charges he faces in Pennsylvania, according to a local district attorney.

Blair County District Attorney Peter Weeks stated that the defendant's extradition to New York will not be delayed and that the prosecution there should come first.

"We've indicated to New York, their prosecution should take precedence, and then ours will follow," Weeks said.

02:17 PM EST

Tyler Frye, cop who caught Luigi Mangione, says 'it feels great'

Officer Tyler Frye, the rookie cop who caught Luigi Mangione, has said it "feels great" to have got "a guy like that off the street."

Mangione has been charged in New York with the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson following the December 4 shooting outside a Hilton hotel in midtown Manhattan.

Frye was one of the police officers who helped to apprehend 26-year-old Mangione in Altoona, Pennsylvania, on Monday, after he was recognized in a McDonald's. Mangione has been charged with forgery and possession of a firearm, charges which his attorney, Thomas Dickey, has said he will plead not guilty to.

The shooting, and Mangione's arrest, has captured the attention of the nation, for the brutality of the crime and for the anger and frustration expressed by many towards the healthcare insurance system.

Joined by Governor Josh Shapiro, Frye spoke at a press conference where the arrest was announced. "I can't say I was expecting it by any means, but it feels good to get a guy like that off the street," Frye said. "It feels great."

Read the full story by Marni Rose McFall on Newsweek.

02:15 PM EST

Mangione didn't want to use bomb because it 'could kill innocents,' notebook reveals

Luigi Mangione had allegedly considered using a bomb to assassinate United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson but ruled it out because he feared it could "could kill innocents."

A notebook found on Mangione during his arrest reportedly contained a to-do list for the assassination and discussed possible murder methods.

"What do you do? You wack the CEO at the annual parasitic bean-counter convention," Mangione allegedly wrote, referring to the stock holder meeting Thompson had been due to attend.

"It's targeted, precise, and doesn't risk innocents."

02:11 PM EST

Luigi Mangione held in maximum security at Pennsylvania prison

Mangione is being held under maximum security at the State Correctional Institution in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania. Mangione, 26, spent his first night in solitary confinement in a "single-block" unit on Tuesday, according to prison officials.

While authorities have not disclosed whether Mangione is under suicide watch, he remains in custody as he awaits potential extradition to New York, where he faces murder charges. The Towson, Maryland, native contested his extradition during a hearing in Blair County on Monday, following a disruptive outburst as he entered the courthouse.

Mangione's arrest has drawn reactions from those who knew him, including Jackie Wexler, a former housemate in Hawaii, who expressed concern for Mangione's well-being. "It just makes me sad to think how alone he must feel," Wexler told Honolulu Civil Beat after his arrest.

02:08 PM EST

Mangione's gun linked to three shell casings found at the murder scene

NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said on Wednesday that the gun found on suspect Luigi Mangione had been tied to bullet casings found the at the scene of Brian Thompson's fatal shooting.

"First, we got the gun in question back from Pennsylvania," she told reporters at a press conference.

"It's now at the NYPD crime lab. We were able to match that gun to the three shell casings that we found in Midtown at the scene of the homicide."

She added that the NYPD's crime lab had also matched his fingerprints "with fingerprints that we found on both the water bottle and the Kind bar found near the scene of the homicide in Midtown."

01:56 PM EST

Two crucial 'clues' that points to Mangione's mental state, according to FBI profiler

Former FBI criminal profiler Candice DeLong said that she suspects Luigi Mangione suffered some sort of mental illness before he allegedly shot and killed the CEO of UnitedHealthcare.

DeLong, who is also a former psychiatric nurse, said on CNN that Mangione's admiration of Unabomber Ted Kaczynski and his style of writings indicated his mental state.

"For me, because of my psyche background, I'm looking at this and saying well, something emerged and threw him off course and his admiration of Ted Kaczynski, I think it kind speaks to where he's at in his head," she said.

DeLong explained that many mental illnesses emerge in the late teens and early-to-mid 20s.

She added that Mangione's "disjointed and rambling" writings were also a "clue" to his mental health.

01:50 PM EST

Ex-FBI profiler says Mangione case is a 'headscratcher'

Former FBI criminal profiler Candice DeLong said today that Luigi Mangione's turn from academic and athletic star to alleged CEO assassin was a "headscratcher."

"This young man had a meteoric rise, and he was a star academically, athletically, culturally, with his friends," DeLong, who is also a former psychiatric nurse, said in CNN today.

"Now he is the subject of the biggest story, certainly of America, possibly the world

"What happened?"

"It's a headscratcher," she added.

01:43 PM EST

John Fetterman criticizes online reactions to Luigi Mangione's arrest

Sen. John Fetterman condemned the online reaction to Luigi Mangione's arrest for the alleged killing of UnitedHealth executive Brian Thompson. Fetterman called out the celebration of Mangione's arrest, telling journalist Sahil Kapur, "He's the a*****e that's going to die in prison. Congratulations if you want to celebrate that."

Fetterman criticized social media for amplifying toxic and anonymous comments, questioning why such content was being highlighted in the media. He also expressed concern about the impact on Mangione's children, saying, "He has two children that are going to grow up without their father."

The senator warned that violent retaliation based on ideological disagreements could set a dangerous precedent, adding, "If you've gunned someone down that you don't happen to agree with their views or the business they're in, hey, you know, I'm next, they're next, he's next, she's next."

01:35 PM EST

Luigi Mangione: In familiar trend, alleged killer becomes online sex symbol

Shortly after police announced that they had detained 26-year-old Luigi Mangione in connection with the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, the internet exploded into a frenzy.

"The manhunt has now ended with investigators declaring 'too hot to convict,'" wrote one user on X. The post featured photos of Mangione taken from his social media profiles.

"The healthcare CEO assassin Luigi Mangione is soooo HOT," wrote another user.

"Luigi Mangione got the full package, free him," said another.

New York prosecutors filed a murder charge against Mangione late Monday, accusing him of killing Thompson, 50, while the executive was on his way to an annual investor conference in midtown Manhattan last week. Mangione also faces forgery and weapons charges in Pennsylvania in connection with the high-profile case that captured national attention.

Mangione's surging online fan base, meanwhile, is the latest iteration of a well-worn phenomenon.

While he was never charged with murder, Jeremy Meeks, a former member of the Crips gang, was among the more recent felons to garner viral fame over his appearance, earning nicknames like "hot convict" and "mug shot hottie" after he was arrested in 2014 and police released his mugshot to the public.

Get the full story from Sonam Sheth on Newsweek.

01:25 PM EST

Threats made against officers following Luigi Mangione's arrest

The Altoona Police Department has received threats against officers and local citizens following the arrest of Luigi Mangione on Monday, Deputy Chief Derek Swope confirmed on Tuesday.

"This is clearly a very polarized case," Swope told reporters, adding that investigations have been launched into threats targeting both law enforcement and members of the community.

When asked whether the threats were related to employees at the McDonald's where Mangione was apprehended, Swope declined to provide specific details on who had been targeted.

01:18 PM EST

Police on alert for copycats as security experts say they're 'bracing for the worst'

The shooting of Brian Thompson sparked two very separate reactions around his killer: a manhunt and admiration from certain parts of the internet, with the latter creating concern among security experts that this killing might inspire copy-cat events.

When a person is gunned down in broad daylight, people do not usually have praise ready for the gunman, but the killing of the CEO of a health insurance company elicited less sympathy and more memes from certain members of the general public, including at least 90,000 people reacting to a tribute post to Thompson on Facebook with "laughing" emojis.

This reaction led security professionals to tell Newsweek that the current environment is dangerous for CEOs and C-suite members.

Chris Pierson, CEO of the security firm BlackCloak, told Newsweek: "Given the vitriol and extreme negativity expressed on social media and other forums, executive protection teams are bracing for the worst."

He said: "We are definitely concerned about the potential for copycat murders, as well as other acts of violence and intimidation that could be inspired by this CEO shooting."

Read in full from Sophie Clark on Newsweek.

01:00 PM EST

Inside SCI Huntingdon Prison, where Luigi Mangione is being held

Luigi Mangione, the suspect in last week's fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, is being housed among other inmates at the SCI Huntingdon prison in Pennsylvania, Newsweek can reveal

Mangione is incarcerated in Huntingdon, and awaiting extradition to New York.

On Monday, police revealed that 26-year-old Mangione was arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of Thompson outside a Manhattan hotel. New York prosecutors have charged Mangione with murder following his apprehension on weapons charges in Altoona, Pennsylvania.

He was recognized by a McDonald's employee early Monday morning, leading to his capture. Police found that he was carrying a firearm, a fake New Jersey ID that matched the one the suspect used to check into a New York hostel, and identification with his real name.

Read in full from Billal Rahman on Newsweek.

12:49 PM EST

Luigi Mangione's mom reported him missing on November 18

The mother of Luigi Mangione had reported her son missing to San Francisco police on November 18.

Kathleen Mangione told police, while reporting him missing, that she hadn't heard from her son since July 1, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

She believed Luigi Mangione was still working in San Francisco and said the last time they had spoken he was working for car buying website TrueCar.

But TrueCar confirmed that Mangione had not worked for them since 2023. The location that Kathleen provided was permanently closed.

12:32 PM EST

Mangione fighting extradition to New York

Luigi Mangione is currently being held at a state prison in Huntington, Pennsylvania, after his lawyer told reporters he is contesting extradition.

The 26-year-old's refusal to waive extradition will mean several weeks of delay as New York Gov. Kathy Hochul's office has 30 days to submit an extradition warrant to Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro.

Mangione's lawyer, local attorney Tom Dickey, has two weeks to file a formal challenge to his detention.

12:18 PM EST

50 Cent shares controversial take on the UnitedHealthcare suspect

50 Cent is not one to shy away from sharing his unfiltered thoughts on controversial events — frequently giving his no-holds barred takes on Diddy's alleged sexual assault crimes, for one. Now, he's not just weighing in with his opinion on UnitedHealthcare shooting suspect Luigi Mangione — he's also teasing a major project about him.

The "Many Men" rapper, 49, took to Instagram on Tuesday, December 10, to give his take on Mangione, the 26-year-old who has been charged with second-degree murder in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Johnson.

"I don't know, I kinda like this killer," 50 Cent (real name Curtis Jackson) wrote in a since-deleted post. "I'm sorry this is going this way it is but I'm doing a documentary on him, he is special! I apologize in advance for anyone who doesn't understand."

Read in full from Michelle McGahan on Newsweek.

12:07 PM EST

Mangione's fingerprints match water bottle found near crime scene

Fingerprints taken from Luigi Mangione match the ones found on a water bottle dumped near the scene of the shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, according to law enforcement sources.

The water bottle and a cell phone were found in a New York City alleyway where Mangione allegedly fled after the fatal shooting.

This forensic match is the first direct link connecting Mangione to the crime scene.

Newsweek has reached out to Mangione's lawyer, Thomas Dickey, for comment on the matter.

12:05 PM EST

Former classmate recalls Luigi Mangione as a social, intelligent valedictorian at Gilman School

Luigi Mangione's academic prowess was not lost on his former peers at the all-boys Gilman School in Baltimore, Maryland, a former classmate told Newsweek's Nick Mordowanec on Tuesday evening.

The ex-student, who requested anonymity due to the ongoing circumstances, said that the boys of the 2016 graduating class were tight-knit and well-acquainted with each others' families and the like.

"Granted, it was a pretty long time ago, but Luigi was a really social kid," said the ex-classmate. "A really nice guy. Highly intelligent. I mean, he was as everybody knows our class valedictorian. Extremely, extremely intelligent.

"So, it definitely caused a surprise considering what he did. I definitely would have never seen that coming, or anything of that nature."

When word spread about Mangione and his arrest for allegedly killing Brian Thompson, it sparked discussions and old memories among former Gilman attendees.

While the ex-student told Newsweek that he and Mangione largely went their separate ways after high school, they still followed each other on social media. Gilman instilled values including honor, integrity, excellence and respect, he added.

"You could be seeing everything on social media, Twitter, Instagram, all that type of stuff," he said. "And it's all Luigi, whether it's a meme, whether it's a threat on Twitter, things like that. It's definitely weird stuff, a little surreal.

"Regarding conversation with classmates or former classmates, we definitely all pretty much share that same sentiment. None of us had anything they didn't like about Luigi, like in terms of memories or personality. He was always, like I said, a really social guy. Really smart. Really, really smart. Pretty much got along with everybody. It's a really weird situation to be in."

11:57 AM EST

Suspect reportedly viewed killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO as a 'symbolic takedown'

Suspect Luigi Mangione appears to have viewed the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson as a "symbolic takedown" of the health insurance industry, according to an NYPD intelligence report.

Mangione was found with a three-page handwritten manifesto criticizing the U.S. healthcare system. Investigators are also looking at the suspect's notebook which allegedly included his plans for the shooting.

"He appeared to view the targeted killing of the company's highest-ranking representative as a symbolic takedown and a direct challenge to its alleged corruption and 'power games,' asserting in his note he is the 'first to face it with such brutal honesty,'" states the NYPD assessment, first obtained by CNN.

11:37 AM EST

Kim Kardashian fans lobbying her to make bold move in Luigi Mangione's case

Fans have found a new legal project for Kim Kardashian.

Following the arrest of Luigi Mangione as a suspect in the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, the reality star's supporters took to social media to ask for her help. Though Mangione, 26, is already being represented by attorney Thomas Dickey, many fans think The Kardashians star, 44, can help with his case.

Kardashian has become a prominent advocate for prison reform, pushing for the release of nonviolent offenders who have been unfairly sentenced. She also met with Gypsy Rose Blanchard in prison, as well as Lyle and Erik Menendez, for whom she called for an early release from their life sentences.

After Mangione was revealed as the suspect in custody for the UHC shooting, fans took to X (formerly Twitter) to lobby for Kardashian's involvement. Some tagged the star in their posts, while others made jokes about the suspect's looks, saying he could model for Kardashian's brand.

Read the full story by Kayla Caldwell on Newsweek.

11:27 AM EST

Google removes negative reviews targeting Altoona McDonald's after Mangione arrested

Google took action to remove negative online reviews aimed at McDonald's Mangione was arrested at one of the fast food chain's locations in Altoona, Pennsylvania.

A Google spokesperson confirmed to USA TODAY on Tuesday that reviews unrelated to the actual business violated the company's policies and were removed. However, some reviews referencing the arrest were still visible on the platform, with a few receiving hundreds of likes.

The spokesperson added that Google would continue to remove further derogatory reviews, emphasizing that user-generated content should reflect actual experiences with the business. Google's policies prohibit off-topic reviews, and the company is placing additional safeguards on the restaurant's profile to prevent future violations.

11:08 AM EST

What is spondylolisthesis? Mangione's condition explained

Luigi Mangione, the suspect charged with the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, had reportedly had spinal surgery just one year ago.

Mangione's friend, R.J. Martin, who owned a co-living space in Hawaii where the suspect lived for six months, told The New York Times about Mangione's debilitating back condition, called spondylolisthesis.

"His spine was kind of misaligned," he said. "He said his lower vertebrae were almost like a half-inch off, and I think it pinched a nerve. Sometimes he'd be doing well and other times not."

What is spondylolisthesis?

Spondylolisthesis (pronounced spohn-di-low-less-THEE-sis) is a health condition where one of the bones in the spine, called a vertebra, slips out of place.

Most common in the lower back, symptoms can include pain and stiffness in the back that is often worse when standing or walking, and difficulty walking or standing for long periods of time

If the misaligned bone traps a nerve, as happened in Mangione's case, this is called sciatica and can cause pain, numbness and tingling in the back, bottom and legs.

Side effects of spondylolisthesis may include chronic pain, spinal arthritis, nerve damage and incontinence (difficulty controlling when you pee or poop).

Read the full story by Hatty Willmoth on Newsweek.

10:59 AM EST

Elon Musk responds to manifesto linked to Mangione

Elon Musk has weighed in on a manifesto tied to Mangione.

Mangione, charged with murder, is expected to plead not guilty. While a motive has not been confirmed, a handwritten manifesto found with Mangione suggests he may have been motivated by anger toward the health insurance industry. The document includes a statement from Mangione, which reads, "I do apologize for any strife or traumas but it had to be done. Frankly, these parasites simply had it coming."

The manifesto further criticizes the U.S. healthcare system, with Mangione claiming that the nation's "#1 most expensive healthcare system" ranks poorly in life expectancy. He also targeted UnitedHealthcare, describing it as an excessively powerful corporation profiting off the public's misfortune.

Musk responded to the manifesto's claims on X (formerly Twitter), offering his solution for improving the nation's health: "Nothing would do more to improve the health, lifespan and quality of life for Americans than making GLP inhibitors super low cost to the public. Nothing else is even close."

GLP inhibitors are medications used to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity.

10:44 AM EST

Mangione's attorney confirms people of the public have offered to pay legal bills

Luigi Mangione's attorney, Thomas Dickey, revealed that his office has received unsolicited offers from members of the public willing to pay for his client's legal expenses.

"My understanding from my staff is people are doing that," Dickey said to CNN's Kaitlan Collins when asked about the matter.

Dickey added that he "probably wouldn't" accept the offers.

10:30 AM EST

Everything you need to know about Thomas Dickey

Thomas Dickey, who is representing Luigi Mangione, is a lawyer based in Blair County, Pennsylvania, with decades of experience in criminal defense and civil litigation. A lifelong resident of Blair County, Dickey is a graduate of Altoona High School and earned his undergraduate degree in history and political science from St. Francis University in Loretto, Pennsylvania. He later graduated from Ohio Northern University's law school, embarking on a distinguished legal career, as highlighted on his firm's website.

Dickey started his career at the Blair County Public Defender's Office, where he honed his skills in helping individuals navigate the legal system. Since opening his private practice in 1984, Dickey has earned a reputation for successfully defending clients in a wide range of cases, including DUI charges, first-degree murder trials, and high-profile appeals that resulted in new trials and the restoration of custodial rights. Notably, he is one of the few death-penalty-qualified attorneys in the region, further solidifying his reputation as a tenacious advocate for his clients.

In addition to his courtroom work, Dickey frequently appears as a legal commentator on national media outlets, including CNN.

10:21 AM EST

Luigi Mangione allegedly had "to-do lists" ahead of shooting, police say

Luigi Mangione, the suspect in the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, reportedly had handwritten to-do lists outlining tasks for committing the murder, according to CNN. The lists included details justifying the planned killing and noted that using a bomb could harm innocents, suggesting a gun would be more precise. Investigators also found a three-page manifesto on Mangione when he was arrested on Monday in Altoona, Pennsylvania.

Mangione, who was taken into custody at a McDonald's and later charged with second-degree murder in connection with Thompson's death, reportedly had fake identification and money in his possession. He denied possessing the money, suggesting it may have been planted.

The notebook allegedly belonging to Mangione also contained references to the Unabomber, Ted Kaczynski, with Mangione describing Kaczynski as an "extreme political revolutionary" in a 2019 Goodreads review. Authorities have not yet disclosed further details regarding the notebook's contents.

10:10 AM EST

Luigi Mangione's attorney sees no evidence connecting client to crime

Luigi Mangione's attorney, Thomas Dickey, has questioned the evidence connecting a gun found on his client to the weapon used in the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. In an interview with Good Morning America on Wednesday, Dickey said that he had not seen any proof linking the firearm to the crime, and his team is still reviewing the details.

Responding to host George Stephanopoulos' remark about the similarities between the two guns, Dickey remarked, "A lot of guns look the same."

He also expressed interest in reviewing additional evidence, including a manifesto allegedly written by Mangione. "We're looking forward to beginning our inquiry as to what evidence may or may not be out there," Dickey added.

10:00 AM EST

How Luigi Mangione compares to Unabomber Ted Kaczynski

Luigi Mangione was inspired by the so-called Unabomber, but he operated in a very different way, a former FBI profiler has said.

Jana Monroe, who coached Jodie Foster for her role in The Silence Of The Lambs, told Newsweek that Mangione and Unabomber Ted Kaczynski were both enraged by what they saw as the arrogance of big corporations, but Kaczynski was much more concerned about escaping and never got up close to his victims.

Kaczynski killed three Americans and injured nearly two dozen more in a 17-year bombing spree. He pleaded guilty to murder and other charges in 1998 and died in prison in 2023. Mangione has been charged with the fatal shooting of Brian Thompson, 50, outside a Hilton hotel in midtown Manhattan on December 4 while the UnitedHealthcare CEO was on his way to an annual investor conference.

Mangione was arrested on Monday in Altoona, about 275 miles from Manhattan. The NYPD intelligence unit issued a report about him, in which it assessed that he was inspired by the Unabomber and shared the Unabomber's hatred of corporate America.

Read the full story by Sean O'Driscoll on Newsweek.

09:48 AM EST

Gov. Kathy Hochul responds to Mangione arrest

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul expressed gratitude to law enforcement for their role in solving the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

In a statement, she praised the efforts that led to the arrest of suspect Luigi Mangione in Pennsylvania. Hochul confirmed that she is working with the District Attorney's Office and will sign a request for a governor's warrant to ensure Mangione is tried and held accountable.

"Public safety is my top priority," she said, "and I'll do everything in my power to keep the streets of New York safe."

09:35 AM EST

Why Luigi Mangione man who led cops to Luigi Mangione might not get $60k

A McDonald's employee who led police to the man accused of killing UnitedHealthcare's CEO may not receive a $60,000 reward that was offered by authorities.

Brian Thompson, 50, was shot dead by a masked gunman as he walked alone to his company's annual investor conference at the New York Hilton Midtown at around 6:45 a.m. on Wednesday, December 4.

The killing sparked a huge manhunt, with the New York Police Department publicizing surveillance images of the suspect and a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction. On Friday, the FBI offered an additional $50,000 reward.

Luigi Mangione, 26, was arrested in Altoona, Pennsylvania after a McDonald's customer reportedly alerted an employee after recognizing him from surveillance camera images that the NYPD had publicized. That employee then called 911, authorities said.

Read the full story by Khaleda Rahman on Newsweek.

09:28 AM EST

Forensic evidence links suspect to CEO killing in Midtown Manhattan

Fingerprints collected from the scene of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson's assassination have been positively matched to suspect Luigi Mangione, law enforcement officials confirmed Wednesday.

This forensic match is the first direct link connecting Mangione to the crime scene outside a Midtown Manhattan hotel, where Thompson was shot and killed one week ago. Authorities are continuing to investigate the motive behind the killing.

Newsweek has reached out to Mangione's lawyer, Thomas Dickey, for comment on the matter.

09:24 AM EST

Luigi Mangione notebook detailed plans for CEO killing: reports

Luigi Mangione, the man charged with the murder of UnitedHealthcare Chief Executive Brian Thompson, was reportedly found with a notebook containing detailed plans for the shooting, according to two law enforcement officials.

The notebook described attending a "bean-counter" conference with the intent to kill an executive, two officials told the New York Times.

One passage read, "What do you do? You wack the CEO at the annual parasitic bean-counter convention. It's targeted, precise, and doesn't risk innocents," the officials said.

The 26-year-old man charged in last week's killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson appeared in a Pennsylvania courtroom on Tuesday, where he was denied bail. His lawyer announced plans to fight extradition to New York City, where the attack occurred.

Read the developing story by Michael D. Carroll on Newsweek.