According to police, a “strong person of interest” who was found in possession of a gun and several forged identification documents was taken into custody in Pennsylvania on Monday in relation to the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch informed reporters that 26-year-old Luigi Mangione was arrested in Altoona on weapons-related charges.
According to authorities, he was discovered with a gun that resembled the one used to shoot Thompson last week and a phony identification card that bore the same name as the one the alleged shooter used at a hostel in New York City.
For live coverage, follow along.
According to Tisch, authorities also found a handwritten letter that reflects his motivation and attitude.
According to investigators, the individual being questioned was at an Altoona McDonald’s when a staff member alerted the police because they felt he was suspicious.
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.
“We think we have a strong person of interest,” stated Eric Adams, the mayor of New York.
According to New York City officials, Altoona police currently have the three handwritten pages of the document that spoke to a motivation.
Whether the man in jail mentioned Thompson in the texts was not immediately 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, the man in detention possessed a weapon that may have been homemade and hence unknown to 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.
“We don’t believe that he was planning on doing any traveling at this time,” added Kenny. “We don’t think he was trying to flee the country.”
About 280 miles from Altoona, Thompson was slain by a masked attacker who came up behind the New York Hilton Midtown.
Police thought Thompson was the shooter’s sole target because other people had passed by before he shot Thompson.
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 claimed that some individuals had been threatening him.
Note: Every piece of content is rigorously reviewed by our team of experienced writers and editors to ensure its accuracy. Our writers use credible sources and adhere to strict fact-checking protocols to verify all claims and data before publication. If an error is identified, we promptly correct it and strive for transparency in all updates, feel free to reach out to us via email. We appreciate your trust and support!