According to authorities, a suspect in the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was apprehended in Pennsylvania on Monday while in possession of a firearm and several forged identification documents.
According to police, Luigi Mangione, 26, was taken into custody at a McDonald’s in Altoona after a patron identified him from pictures that were circulated during the days-long manhunt that ensued after Thompson’s killing.
He was charged with three misdemeanors, including tampering with documents or identification, possessing instruments of crime, and giving false identification to law enforcement, and two felonies, including forgery and carrying a handgun without a license, when he was arraigned in Pennsylvania on Monday night.
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He did not enter a plea and was refused bail. Authorities stated that they anticipate Mangione will face charges related to Thompson’s murder last week “very soon.”
According to law enforcement, when officers ordered Mangione to remove his mask, they instantly identified him as the suspect in Thompson’s death.
“The male became quiet and started to shake,” according to the police complaint, when they inquired as to whether he had lately visited New York.
Mangione was initially cooperative, but authorities claimed Monday night that he was no longer being helpful.
According to authorities, Mangione was discovered in a hostel in New York City with a gun that resembled the one used to shoot Thompson last week and a phony ID that bore the same name as the alleged shooter.
According to Tisch, authorities also found a handwritten letter that reflects his motivation and attitude.
According to authorities, Mangione was born and reared in Maryland, has connections to San Francisco, and last lived in Hawaii. He has never been arrested before.
According to New York City officials, Altoona police currently have the three handwritten pages of the document that spoke to a motivation.
Whether the pages mentioned Thompson in the writings was not readily apparent.
Law enforcement officials told NBC News that investigators are also examining Mangione’s internet posts regarding domestic terrorist Ted Kaczynski.
Kaczynski, whose bombs murdered three people, had long expressed disapproval of the problems in contemporary America and had other anti-establishment beliefs.
NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny stated, “We don’t think that there’s any specific threats to other people mentioned in that document.” “But it does seem that he has some ill will toward corporate America.”
Additionally, Mangione possessed a weapon that may have been handmade, evading detection by any government or law enforcement organization.
According to the information we’re receiving from Altoona, Kenny stated that the gun might have been manufactured using a 3D printer and looks to be a ghost gun.
He claimed to be in possession of a silencer and a ghost pistol that could fire 9 mm rounds.
According to the police, the arrest was made possible in large part by the public’s assistance.
“This case has a lot of linchpins,” Kenny stated. “We’ve recovered an enormous amount of forensic evidence, an enormous amount of video, and once again, with your help, the public’s help.”
According to the commissioner, police discovered a phony ID used at a hostel in New York City and clothing that matched that of the alleged shooter.
“Mark Rosario,” a 26-year-old Maplewood resident, was stated as the name on a fake New Jersey driver’s license, according to a photograph of the ID that NBC New York was able to obtain.
According to several law enforcement sources who spoke to NBC News, that identity is the same one Thompson’s alleged killer used to check into a hostel in New York the days before the attack.
“Multiple fraudulent IDs, as well as a U.S. passport,” Tisch stated, referring to the detained individual. However, authorities don’t think he was planning a global getaway.
About 280 miles from Altoona, Thompson was slain by a masked attacker who came up behind the New York Hilton Midtown.
Security footage showed that the gunman started shooting at 6:45 a.m., then escaped into Central Park on a bike, according to investigators.According to investigators, the last video of the suspected shooter showed him at an upper Manhattan bus depot.
According to the authorities, three pieces of ammo were found with the phrases “deny,” “delay,” and “depose” scribbled in marker on one of them.
In addition to the $10,000 offered by Crime Stoppers and New York police, the FBI has also posted a $50,000 reward for information that results in the gunman’s capture.
A UnitedHealthcare spokeswoman stated on Monday, “We hope that today’s apprehension brings some relief to Brian’s family, friends, colleagues, and the many others affected by this unspeakable tragedy.” “We thank law enforcement and will continue to work with them on this investigation.”
Thompson’s passing shocked the business and medical communities, prompting concerns about suitable security for senior leaders.
As social media feeds were overrun with tweets cheering or at the very least attempting to defend Thompson’s murder, the shooting also revealed a deep, visceral animosity against private health care firms.
According to his wife, Paulette Thompson, Thompson, who lived in Minnesota, had received threats recently but had not changed his travel schedule.
When he was shot, he was not accompanied by a security detail.
Hours after the attack, Paulette Thompson acknowledged that there had been some threats. Basically, a lack of coverage, I guess? Details are unknown to me. All I know is that he said that certain individuals had been threatening him.
Following Thompson’s murder, internet applause was criticized by Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro.
At a news conference on Monday night outlining Mangione’s arrest and accusations, Shapiro stated, “Some attention in this case, especially online, has been deeply disturbing, as some have looked to celebrate instead of condemning this killer.”
“Brian Thompson had two children. In addition to being the CEO of a health insurance firm, he was a husband and a close friend. In America, people are not killed in cold blood to settle disputes about policies or voice opinions.
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