December 14th 2024.
According to a senior police official, the man accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson did not have any connection with the company as a client. It is believed that he may have chosen to target the company due to its large size and influence. NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny shared in an interview with NBC New York on Thursday that investigators have found evidence suggesting that the suspect, Luigi Mangione, was aware of UnitedHealthcare's annual investor conference in New York City.
Further evidence was uncovered when Mangione was detained by police in Pennsylvania, where a note mentioning the company was found in his possession. Kenny stated, "We have no indication that he was ever a client of UnitedHealthcare, but he does mention that it is the fifth largest corporation in America, which would make it the largest healthcare organization in America. So, that may be why he chose to target that company."
Although UnitedHealthcare is among the top 20 largest companies in the US by market capitalization, it is not the fifth largest. However, it is the largest health insurer in the country. Mangione was arrested in Altoona, Pennsylvania, on Monday after being spotted at a McDonald's, and remains in jail without bail. His lawyer, Thomas Dickey, has stated that Mangione intends to plead not guilty and has not seen any conclusive evidence linking his client to the crime.
The suspect's arrest came five days after the fatal shooting of Thompson, which was caught on camera outside a Manhattan hotel. It is reported that the shooter waited outside the hotel, where the company's investor conference was taking place, on the morning of December 4. He approached Thompson from behind, shot him, and then fled the scene on a bicycle through Central Park.
Mangione is currently fighting extradition to New York, where he will face a murder charge in Thompson's killing. A hearing has been scheduled for December 30. The 26-year-old is currently facing charges in Pennsylvania for possession of an unlicensed firearm, forgery, and providing false identification to the police. It is believed that the gun used in the shooting was a "ghost gun", and shell casings found at the scene matched those found in Mangione's possession.
Mangione comes from a prominent real estate family in Maryland and is a graduate of an Ivy League university. On social media, he has shared his struggles with severe chronic back pain and his successful spinal fusion surgery in 2023, which improved his pain and mobility. He has encouraged others to consider the same type of surgery.
In light of his writings about his health problems and his criticism of corporate America and the US healthcare system, investigators are now looking into the suspect's motives. In a recent interview with NBC, Kenny stated that Mangione's family had reported him missing to San Francisco authorities in November.
For the latest breaking news, sports, politics, and weather, download the 9News app. Stay informed and receive notifications straight to your smartphone. The app is available on both the Apple App Store and Google Play.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
