Luigi Mangione, accused of shooting and killing healthcare insurance CEO Brian Thompson in New York, clashed with police and shouted at reporters as he was escorted into court on Tuesday. This occurred as more details emerged regarding a possible motive for the crime.
Mangione appeared at an extradition hearing in Pennsylvania, where his attorney, Thomas Dickey, stated that the 26-year-old would fight being transferred to New York to face murder charges. “I haven’t seen any evidence that he’s the shooter,” Dickey said.
Dressed in an orange jumpsuit, Mangione attempted to speak to reporters as he arrived at the hearing. He was heard shouting “completely unjust” and “insult to the intelligence of the American people” before officers escorted him into the courtroom.
He was arrested on Monday after being spotted at a McDonald’s in Pennsylvania, following a multi-state manhunt. Authorities allegedly found him in possession of a gun similar to the one used in the murder, along with a silencer and a fake ID.
Mr. Mangione was denied bail for the second time on Tuesday after prosecutors argued that he posed too great a danger to be released.
The judge granted prosecutors 30 days to obtain a warrant from New York Governor Kathy Hochul for his extradition to the state.
Hochul later confirmed she would provide the necessary warrant, saying, “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.”
In court, Mr. Mangione glanced around at the reporters and occasionally smiled. At one point, he interrupted his own lawyer, who quickly silenced him. After the hearing, his attorney, Mr. Dickey, spoke to reporters outside the courthouse. “You can’t rush to judgment in this case or any case,” he said. “He’s presumed innocent. Let’s not forget that.”
In Pennsylvania, Mr. Mangione faces several charges, including providing fraudulent identification to police and possessing an unlicensed firearm. He is being held at a state prison in Pennsylvania and plans to plead not guilty.
In New York, he faces separate charges, including murder, for the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on December 4. Thompson was shot by a masked man outside a Manhattan hotel in what police have called a targeted attack.
Mr. Thompson was appointed CEO of UnitedHealthcare, the largest private insurer in the US, in April 2021.
According to his widow, Paulette Thompson, he had previously received threats related to medical coverage, though prosecutors have not yet suggested a motive for his death.
However, on Tuesday, as police analyzed evidence and worked to trace Mr. Mangione’s movements following the shooting, more details emerged about his apparent grievances with the health insurance industry.
New York Police Department Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny told Good Morning America that he had read a three-page handwritten note allegedly found on the suspect during his arrest.
“He does express frustration with the healthcare system in the United States,” Kenny said. “He wrote extensively about his disdain for corporate America, particularly the healthcare industry.”
The note, which has been reported by several US media outlets, reportedly includes references to “parasites” who “had it coming.” It also allegedly states that he acted alone.
Former friends who spoke to the BBC revealed that Mr. Mangione had been dealing with a back injury. They said he left a surfing community in Hawaii during the summer of 2023 to undergo spinal surgery.
RJ Martin, a former roommate of the suspect from Hawaii, shared that the injury “often prevented him from doing many normal activities.”
Since his arrest, various details about Mr. Mangione’s background have emerged. He was born in Maryland to a wealthy, well-known family, and police say he has connections to San Francisco, California. His last known address was in Honolulu, Hawaii.
He attended the University of Pennsylvania, an Ivy League institution, where he earned both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in software engineering.
The latest tips & news straight to your inbox
Join 50,000+ subscribers for exclusive access to our monthly newsletter with Sports, Tech, Jobs, Entertainmentand tips!
Local media reported that Mr. Mangione’s mother had filed a missing person report last month, telling authorities in San Francisco that she hadn’t heard from her son since July.
“Our family is shocked and devastated by Luigi’s arrest,” his family said in a statement shared on social media by his cousin. “We offer our prayers to the family of Brian Thompson and ask everyone to pray for all involved.”
