A man has been detained in Pennsylvania for questioning about the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, according to a report by ABC News. An employee at a McDonald's in Altoona recognized the man from the wanted posters and called the police. When officers arrived, they made contact with the man, who has not been identified, and reportedly found a fake ID and gun similar to the one used in the killing, which occurred last week outside of a hotel in New York City.
New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch identified the man as 26-year-old Luigi Mangione, calling him a "strong" person of interest in Thompson's killing.
Thompson was shot on Wednesday (December 4) in a targeted attack outside the New York Hilton Midtown, where he was attending an investor conference. The gunman, described as a masked male, fired multiple shots, hitting Thompson in the back and right calf before fleeing the scene.
The suspect had been in New York City for over a week before the shooting, arriving from Atlanta on a Greyhound bus. He reportedly stayed at the HI New York City hostel using a fake New Jersey ID. Surveillance footage captured him at a Starbucks and the hostel, where he was seen without a mask.
The New York Police Department has released images of the suspect, who was last seen fleeing on an electric bike into Central Park. The gunman left behind a phone, a water bottle, and a protein bar wrapper, which are being analyzed for DNA. Bullet casings found at the scene were inscribed with the words "deny," "defend," and "depose," echoing criticisms of the insurance industry's claim denial practices.
Investigators are piecing together the suspect's movements and examining evidence, including a cellphone found at the scene. The FBI and NYPD have offered rewards totaling $60,000 for information leading to the suspect's capture.
Thompson, who had been CEO since 2021, was a father of two and had been with UnitedHealthcare since 2004. His wife mentioned that he had received threats related to insurance coverage issues. The investigation continues as authorities work to identify and apprehend the suspect.