What's New
Federal prosecutors filed four charges against Luigi Mangione in Manhattan on Friday, with the criminal complaint including quotes allegedly from the suspect's notebook.
Newsweek reached out to Mangione's attorney via email for comment on Thursday.
The Context
Mangione, 26, is accused of shooting and killing Brian Thompson, the then CEO of United Healthcare, outside his Manhattan hotel on the early morning of December 4, as the executive headed to speak at an annual investor's conference. The alleged killer on Thursday was extradited to New York from Pennsylvania, where he was arrested at a McDonald's in Altoona five days after Thompson's shooting.
Thompson's murder has captured the attention of the nation, with some in society expressing a level of understanding for Mangione's alleged actions. While many also have condemned the killing and expressed disgust at the support Mangione has received, others have said they struggle to feel empathy for a murdered executive of a private health insurer.
What to Know
The criminal complaint filed by federal prosecutors included several quotes allegedly from Mangione's notebook.
What was in Luigi Mangioni's Notebook?
- On August 15, Mangione allegedly wrote, "the details are finally coming together" and "I'm glad - in a way procrastinated, bc [because ] it allowed me to learn more about [acronym for Company- 1] ." The notebook allegedly went on to say that "the target is insurance."
On October 22, the notebook included the following, "1.5 months. This investor conference is a true windfall . . . and most importantly-– the message becomes self evident," according to the criminal complaint. The notebook also included an intention to "wack" the CEO of the health insurance company.
What was in the Criminal Complaint?
- "Hostility": The complaint stated that "the Notebook contained several handwritten pages that express hostility towards the health insurance industry and wealthy executives in particular."
- Gun photos: The Thursday complaint filed in Manhattan also included photos of the gun allegedly used in the attack and a backpack that allegedly belonged to the suspect. It outlined a timeline of Mangione's alleged movements surrounding the shooting and other evidence prosecutors plan to present against him in court.
- "Manifesto": Quotes a separate letter allegedly recovered from Mangione, which was dubbed my some as his "manifesto", which was first reported by independent journalist Ken Klippenstein on his Substack blog, and later confirmed to be a legitimate transcription by law enforcement authorities:
"'I wasn't working with anyone. This was fairly trivial: Some elementary social engineering, basic CAD, a lot of patience.' Based on my own research, I believe that 'CAD' refers to 'computer-aided design.' The Feds Letter also stated: 'P.S. you can check serial numbers to verify this is all self-funded. My own ATM withdrawals.'"
What People Are Saying
Protesters supporting Mangione at court in Pennsylvania on Thursday expressed a level of solidarity with the alleged murderer.
Andrea Aye, who traveled to the courthouse from northern Ohio, told USA Today: "We feel his anger, his frustration. It has definitely woke people up. We hear him."
In New York on Thursday, people stood outside court holding signs reading "healthcare reform now" and "health over wealth." At least one apparent Mangione supporter was also photographed outside the courthouse wearing a shirt featuring a now iconic photo of the suspect.
Furthermore, many have commented on Mangione's exceptionally good looks, with some online dubbing him a "sex symbol." With the LGBTQ+ community, many have been openly thirsting after the alleged killer, with some describing him as a "gay icon." Others have rebuked this reaction.
Fox News host Laura Ingraham described the trend as "twisted hero worship" last week. She said, "Liberal wackos are treating suspected killer Luigi Mangione as a folk hero, first by salivating over his Italian good looks."
Mangione's New York defense attorney, Karen Friedman Agnifilo, told Fox News: "The federal government's reported decision to pile on top of an already overcharged first-degree murder and state terror case is highly unusual and raises serious constitutional and statutory double jeopardy concerns. We are ready to fight these charges in whatever court they are brought."
Manhattan District Attorney's Office in a statement Thursday: "As alleged, this defendant brazenly shot Mr. Thompson point blank on a Manhattan sidewalk. The Manhattan D.A.'s Office, working with our partners at the NYPD, is dedicated to securing justice for this heinous murder with charges of Murder in the first degree."
Andrew Witty, the CEO of UnitedHealth Group, which is the parent company of United Healthcare, wrote an op-ed for The New York Times last week defending Thompson: "The ideas he advocated were aimed at making health care more affordable, more transparent, more intuitive, more compassionate—and more human. That's Brian's legacy, one that we will carry forward by continuing our work to make the health system work better for everyone."
What Happens Next
Mangione's New York hearing on Thursday took about 15 minutes. When asked by the judge whether he understood the charges, the suspect responded twice with a "yes."
He will be held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. The alleged killer is not expected to be back in court until mid-January.
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