Luigi Mangione was arrested on suspicion of murdering the CEO of a private healthcare company, United Healthcare (UHC). Since then, his name and face have taken over the internet, and the initial reaction from people was to find him attractive and joke about it.
The topic gained traction, and the discussion eventually turned Luigi into a kind of modern-day Robin Hood. He sacrificed everything he had to “allegedly” assassinate the CEO of a billion-dollar company that has profited greatly from people’s health.
The CEO of United Healthcare, a man named Brian Thompson, was shot and killed in New York. Brian had worked at the healthcare company for 20 years and had been in charge of the health insurance division since 2021.
Before that, he had worked in several other branches of the company, such as the one responsible for managing clients’ retirement plans. This crime shocked the United States because United Healthcare is a major player in the sector, serving nearly 50 million Americans.
Well, in case you didn’t know, healthcare in the U.S. is a huge industry. There is no SUS like we have in Brazil, and people end up spending practically everything they have when they get sick. And when I say “EVERYTHING,” I mean it—many people mortgage their homes and take on astronomical loans to pay medical bills.
It’s estimated that just last year, Brian Thompson generated $300 billion in revenue for United Healthcare. Let’s be honest—that’s a lot of money! And that was just from his sector, meaning the company’s total revenue was at least double that.
This is a controversial topic in and of itself. These companies become billion-dollar giants while Americans sink into debt due to the lack of access to free healthcare.
It’s a deeply complex issue and has been a recurring theme in political promises for years. It’s not hard to find news stories of people who have taken their own lives because they couldn’t pay off their health insurance debts.
The issue is highly complex and has been the subject of political promises for years. It’s not hard to find news stories about people who took their own lives because they couldn’t pay off their health insurance debts.
Shots in Broad Daylight
Security camera footage showed a man wearing a hoodie and mask as the person responsible for the shooting outside the Hilton Hotel in Midtown Manhattan, which struck the CEO in the leg and back.
On the bullets used, the suspect had written three words: “delay,” “deny,” and “defend.”
These three words reference the title of the book “Delay, Deny, Defend” written by Jay M. Feinman in 2010, which criticizes the health insurance industry in the United States.
These words represent a massive strategy used by companies to avoid delivering the service they are supposed to provide. You call your health insurance to complain about something, and they will deny, delay, or defend—tactics used to avoid fulfilling their obligations.
It became obvious, just from the words written on the bullets, that the motive behind the crime was some sort of aversion to the healthcare system. Someone who writes something on a bullet clearly wants to send a message.
After the crime, Luigi allegedly fled on a bicycle and vanished into Central Park. He then took a bus to Pennsylvania, as shown in surveillance footage.
He managed to stay hidden for a while but was recognized by a McDonald’s employee who reported him and called the police. He was detained on charges of identity fraud, as he was using false identification, and for illegal possession of a firearm.
The police even referred to Luigi’s weapon as a “ghost gun,” since it was a pistol made with a 3D printer. A raw glimpse of technology being used in the world of crime…
Case History
At the time of his arrest, he had not yet been charged with homicide and was taken in for questioning as he was considered “a person of interest.”
Following the arrest, Luigi’s photos spread across the internet and the American public went wild. First because of Luigi’s appearance: a young, handsome, athletic man with an impressive academic background—not to mention his strong presence on social media.
He was active on Twitter, Instagram, and even shared his reading habits on a book-related social network. Soon, everyone wanted to know more about the promising young man who risked everything to kill a billionaire CEO.
Luigi has not yet been convicted, but many people began to suspect that the shooter could be someone who had been denied treatment by a health insurance plan.
Mangione has a chronic spinal injury that affects his ability to carry out some daily activities, but considering that as the motive for the crime seems contradictory, given that Luigi is the heir to a multimillion-dollar empire.
The “Mangiones” own country clubs, nursing homes, radio stations, golf courses, hotels, resorts, and a foundation. In short, money was not the issue!
He graduated with honors from high school and then went on to attend one of the most prestigious universities in the United States. He earned a degree in Computer Science and completed a master’s in Engineering and Computer Science with an emphasis on Artificial Intelligence.
It wouldn’t have taken much for him to become a billionaire and live a life of luxury. This contrast between the case, the suspect, and his background is what intrigued not only Americans but the whole world.
Manifesto
At the time of his arrest, Luigi was carrying a three-page Manifesto outlining what “might” have been the motive behind the crime. According to the NYPD, the content of the text was a criticism of the American healthcare system.
The excerpts released included phrases like “I apologize for any conflict or trauma, but this had to be done,” and “honestly, these parasites deserved it.”
Luigi’s frustration with the healthcare system, brutally exposed to society, drew a huge audience—or rather, a legion of fans.
Many people also despise these companies, and this has sparked widespread fear among American business owners in the industry.
If you’re familiar with criminal cases, you know it’s common for so-called “copycats” to emerge. Well, the police fear that Luigi Mangione may inspire some imitators in the coming weeks…
The first signs of this can already be seen online. Luigi gained thousands of new followers on his social media accounts, and even a crowdfunding campaign was launched to cover bail, legal fees, and court costs.
For much of the public, the crime committed by Luigi seems “well-intentioned,” despite being heinous. Supporters are even selling hats and T-shirts featuring the face of the American martyr.
Press Appearance
Luigi’s first appearance after his arrest was also quite impactful. Police were escorting him into the building for a hearing regarding his extradition.
He was arrested in Pennsylvania but is expected to stand trial in New York, where the crime took place.
When Luigi turned to the press and shouted about being “completely cut off,” calling it an insult to the intelligence of the American people and to his own life experience—according to his attorney—the media went wild.
These outbursts happened because he still didn’t have legal representation at the time, so it was a kind of rebellion against the system.
An American TV network managed to place a microphone close to the prison fence and recorded inmates shouting that Luigi was not being treated well by the guards.
Throughout the process, Luigi could be legally barred from receiving a single cent from his inheritance. Given that, having the support of various communities seems to be quite beneficial.
Another intriguing detail is that Luigi had been out of contact for some time. In fact, the last six months are a blank spot in Luigi’s life. The young man’s disappearance roughly coincides with the period when he began treating his spinal injury.
Obviously, this was a premeditated crime, and I’d venture to say Luigi had been planning it for quite a while. Friends and family only had great things to say about him, like “the life of the party,” “always joking, always talking to everyone,” “extremely smart and dedicated.”
Something clearly happened in recent times that led Luigi to risk everything he had to allegedly commit this crime. And there’s still a lot more to unfold in this case.
Repercussion
A woman in Florida was arrested a few days ago after she called her health insurance company, and when her request was denied by the representative, she allegedly threatened the company, saying: delay, deny, and defend—you’re next!
She was inspired by those three little words Luigi had allegedly written on the bullets used in the crime and made a threat against another company.
Conclusion
And to wrap up this case (for now), it’s been reported that Luigi Mangione has been stealing the spotlight from P. Diddy in prison. Sources told the American press that the musician is “throwing a tantrum” over the fact that the young man is getting so much attention and being treated like a hero behind bars.
“Diddy has been having anger outbursts because Luigi is getting all the attention in prison and being treated like a hero, even after killing someone on camera,” said an anonymous source.
He is being held in isolation from the general prison population but has received various messages from other inmates who have also dealt with issues involving health insurance companies.
Both Diddy and Luigi Mangione are represented by the same legal team, but they have never had any direct contact with each other.
