NEW YORK. Luigi Mangione, a 26-year-old Ivy League graduate, has been thrust into the national spotlight after being charged with the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on Dec. 4. The crime, which occurred outside a Manhattan hotel before an industry conference, has ignited an intense and polarizing public response, including financial and symbolic support for Mangione, despite the gravity of the accusations.
A five-day manhunt culminated in Mangione’s arrest on Monday in Pennsylvania, where he is being held on gun and forgery charges as New York prosecutors seek his extradition. Authorities allege that Mangione, masked and armed, fatally shot Thompson, a father of two, in what some supporters have controversially described as an act of protest against corporate greed.
Since his arrest, over $31,000 has been raised on the crowd-funding site GiveSendGo for Mangione’s legal defense. Supporters left messages expressing anger at the U.S. healthcare system. “Denying healthcare coverage to people is murder, but no one gets charged with that crime,” one donor wrote, referring to systemic practices perceived as life-threatening. Others echoed the phrase “Deny, Defend, Depose” — reportedly inscribed on the shell casings found at the scene, alluding to accusations of obstructive tactics used by insurers.
The public reaction has spilled into other platforms, with TikTok users praising Mangione as a “class hero” and websites selling merchandise featuring slogans like “CEO Hunter” and “Free Luigi.”
However, not all responses have been sympathetic. Former NYPD detective Felipe Rodriguez expressed concern: “They’ve made him a martyr for all the troubles people have had with their insurance companies. But he’s a stone-cold killer.”
New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch confirmed on Wednesday that Mangione’s fingerprints matched evidence recovered at the crime scene, including a water bottle and energy bar wrapper. Reports also revealed handwritten documents found in his possession that attempted to frame his alleged crime as a response to corporate practices he viewed as exploitative.
Mangione’s lawyer has indicated that he plans to plead not guilty to the charges in Pennsylvania.
While the case has highlighted widespread frustration with rising healthcare costs and inequality, many have condemned the violent act. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro called the glorification of Mangione “deeply disturbing,” stating, “In America, we do not kill people in cold blood to resolve policy differences.”
At a panel during the Reuters NEXT conference, health industry executives addressed the controversy. “Our health system needs to be better … but there cannot be this false moral equivalence in our discourse,” said Vin Gupta, Chief Medical Officer of Amazon Pharmacy.
Others noted Mangione’s privileged background as the son of a prominent Baltimore family, contrasting it with Thompson’s working-class roots in rural Iowa.
UnitedHealth Group CEO Andrew Witty paid tribute to Thompson in a letter to employees, describing him as “one of the good guys” and lamenting his loss.
Mangione’s alleged actions have sparked a national conversation about healthcare inequality, executive accountability, and the ethics of protest. David Shapiro, a former FBI agent and professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, observed, “It’s hard to underestimate the anger and angst people have with their insurance companies. But cheering this on anonymously on the internet crosses a dangerous line.”
As Mangione awaits further legal proceedings, the case remains a flashpoint in ongoing debates over justice, morality, and systemic reform.
Gary P Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
