The suspected assassin accused of killing UnitedHealth executive Brian Thompson has officially been charged with murder just hours after his arrest in Pennsylvania. Luigi Mangione, 26, was apprehended on Monday in Altoona following a tip from an observant McDonald’s customer. Authorities found Mangione carrying a gun, mask, notes, a passport, and $10,000 in cash—some in foreign currency.
“The customer recognized, notified an employee, and wanted someone to check it out further,” said Lt. Col. George Bivens of the Pennsylvania State Police, crediting the quick action for Mangione’s capture. Late Monday, prosecutors in Manhattan filed charges against Mangione, including murder, gun possession, and forgery, court records revealed.
Mangione remains jailed in Pennsylvania, where he also faces charges of carrying an unlicensed gun, forgery, and providing false identification to authorities, according to The Associated Press. He has been booked at the State Correctional Institution in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania.
Mangione’s arrest has left both his family and friends reeling. Maryland State Delegate Nino Mangione, Luigi’s cousin, addressed the situation with a statement on social media. “Our family is shocked and devastated by Luigi’s arrest,” Nino Mangione wrote. “We offer our prayers to the family of Brian Thompson and we ask people to pray for all involved.”
The shocking nature of the crime also unsettled those who knew Luigi Mangione personally. R.J. Martin, a former roommate and friend of the 26-year-old, expressed disbelief over the arrest. “He was absolutely not a violent person, as far as I can tell,” Martin said. “Personally, I can make zero sense of it. There’s never a justification for violence.”
Mangione’s alleged involvement in the fatal shooting has raised numerous questions as investigators piece together the circumstances of the crime. The swift arrest following the McDonald’s tip has underscored the importance of public vigilance in cases like these.
As legal proceedings move forward, the case has garnered national attention, leaving a grieving family seeking justice and Mangione’s loved ones grappling with the shocking allegations.