Luigi Mangione, 26, who is an Ivy League graduate hailing from a rich family, is accused of killing UnitedHeathcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York.
Luigi Mangione, 26, an Ivy League graduate who hails from a prominent family in Maryland, is currently in the news after he was charged with murder for the killing of Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare and a father of two. However, to many, he has emerged as a local hero, a celebrity and a crush.
After he was arrested in Altoona, Pennsylvania on December 9, 2024, Luigi was charged with second-degree murder. He was found in possession of a ghost gun, a suppressor and several counterfeit identification cards. Authorities also found a three-page handwritten manifesto detailing his grievances with corporate America, which is speculated to be the motivation behind his alleged attack.
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However, Luigi has become a divisive figure in America, with over a thousand donations for his legal defence, including messages supporting him and even celebrating Thompson’s murder. More than $31,000 had been raised as of Wednesday on GiveSendGo alone.
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Supporters Say ‘Justifiable Homicide’, Launch Mangione Merchandise
In New York, where Thompson was killed outside a hotel, ‘wanted’ posters of CEOs have been seen on walls. Several websites are selling Luigi Mangione merchandise, including hats with ‘CEO Hunter’ printed across a bullseye and social media users swooning over his photogenic smile and six-pack abs.
Since Luigi’s arrest on Monday, over $31,000 has been raised on the GiveSendGo platform alone to support his legal fees. Many of the messages on the platform reflected a deep frustration with the American healthcare system, where exorbitant treatments and reimbursements can be denied to patients based ojn their insurance coverage, amid anger over rising income inequality and executive pay.
“Denying healthcare coverage to people is murder, but no one gets charged with that crime,” one donor wrote, calling the killing a “justifiable homicide.” Several others simply wrote, “Deny, Defend, Depose” – the words written on shell casings found at the murder scene.
Anonymous donors also supported Mangione on a donation page created by The December 4th Legal Committee in New Jersey, which raised nearly $30,000 as of Wednesday, according to the New York Post. “We are not here to celebrate violence, but we do believe in the constitutional right of fair legal representation,” the group wrote.
Users on TikTok shared videos and photos of Mangione’s latest outburst with messages of praise, such as “this man is an absolute legend” and “class consciousness is rising.” Several sites were selling T-shirts bearing his face with messages like “FREE LUIGI” and “In This House, Luigi Mangione Is A Hero, End of Story.”
Dismay Over Support To Luigi Mangione
Several people expressed dismay at the reaction towards Luigi’s arrest and the overwhelming support towards him. “They’ve made him a martyr for all the troubles people have had with their own insurance companies. I mean, who hasn’t had run-ins with their insurance? But he’s a stone-cold killer,” said Felipe Rodriguez, a former NYPD detective sergeant.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro condemned those valorizing Mangione on Monday, calling the response “deeply disturbing”. “In America, we do not kill people in cold blood to resolve policy differences or express a viewpoint,” he said.
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Mangione, who reportedly suffered from chronic back pain that impacted his daily life, had criticised the American healthcare system in his social media posts and said the profits of major corporations continue to rise while “our life expectancy” does not. He is being held in Pennsylvania on gun and forgery charges while prosecutors in New York seek his extradition. His lawyer said he plans to plead not guilty to the Pennsylvania charges.
In the US, people pay for healthcare more than in any country and a significant increase in spending on insurance premiums, out-of-pocket co-payments, pharmaceuticals and hospital services has been noted in the last five years, as per government data. Despite this, patients have their claims denied and often face unexpected costs that are supposed to be covered under their health plan, which add to their burdens amid a rising cost of living.
Thompson, who became the CEO of UnitedHealthcare in 2021, is survived by his wife Paulette and two children. Paulette had earlier said her husband had been getting threats before he was killed.
