Luigi Mangione latest: UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting suspect charged with murder as an ‘act of terrorism’

Set with the task of tracking down a fugitive from the law, you can guarantee social media will track them down in record time – even if the only thing to go by is a small, three-inch gap between a mask and a hood. As was the case with the suspect in the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO, Brian Thompson.

The NYPD released a set of images taken in the back of a taxi on Sunday, and within less than 24 hours, the internet had gleaned from the dark, bushy eyebrows alone that it was 26-year-old Luigi Mangione, a Baltimore-born graduate from the University of Pennsylvania, who comes from a prominent family.

But once found, the circus didn’t stop there. As well as identifying the suspect, social media sleuths tracked down his LinkedIn, Twitter – even his Goodreads – profiles. And just as fast came the memes, objectification and reactionary vlogs.

Read Emma Clarke’s full piece below.

A grand jury indictment in New York charges Luigi Mangione with the following:

• first-degree murder
• two counts of second-degree murder, including one count as “an act of terrorism”
• two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree
• four counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree
• one count of criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree
• one count of criminal possession of a forged instrument in the second degree

The first-degree murder and one of two second-degree murder counts accuse Mangione of committing “an act of terrorism, involving a violent act and acts dangerous to human life” that was “intended to intimidate or coerce a civilian population, influence the policies of a unit of government by intimidation or coercion, and affect the conduct of a unit of government by murder, assassination or kidnapping.”

NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch condemned what she called a “celebration” on social media of Brian Thompson’s killing.

“In the nearly two weeks since Mr. Thompsons killing, we have seen a shocking and appalling celebration of cold-blooded murder,” she said Tuesday.

She said NYPD discovered “ghoulishly plastered posters” threatening other CEOs.

“I just can’t wrap my head around someone celebrating this,” Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said.

Brian Thompson was in New York for UnitedHealth Group’s annual Investor Conference.

Then he was shot dead on the sidewalk.

Here’s what you need to know about the case:

Mangione family patriarch Nick Mangione was reportedly born to an illiterate father in Baltimore's Little Italy before the Second World War. He fought in the Pacific and made his fortune as a contractor and then a real estate developer in the baby boom years.

More on what we know about Luigi’s family, from The Independent’s Io Dodds:

Luigi Mangione allegedly laid out his plot to kill UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in a spiral notebook, including a chilling “to-do list” and plans considering using a bomb in the Manhattan attack.

James Liddell has more:

Luigi Mangione has retained a top New York attorney for his legal defense in connection with the shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

What we know:

New York Governor Kathy Hochul is expected to issue a warrant for Luigi Mangione’s extradition to New York after a grand jury indictment unveiled murder and weapons charges against the suspected killer of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

He is due in court in Pennsylvani on Thursday.

Mangione was arraigned last Monday in Pennsylvania on felony counts of forgery and carrying a firearm without a license, as well as three misdemeanors: tampering with records or identification, possessing instruments of crime and providing false identification to law enforcement.

On Tuesday, Manhattan prosecutors charged him with three murder counts and eight weapons charges.

He faces life improsonment without parole on the New York charges.

In a press conference announcing murder charges in New York against Luigi Mangione, NYPD chief Jessica Tisch held up a copy of The New York Post’s front page from Monday, which reported that a deck of cards with other “Most Wanted” CEOs to be targeted was being circulated.

“These are the threats of a lawless, violent mob who would trade in their own vigilantism for the rule of law that protects us all,” she said Tuesday.

“Let me say this plainly, there is no heroism in what Mangione did. It was a cold and calculated crime that stole a life and put New Yorkers at risk. We don’t celebrate murders, and we don’t idolize the killing of anyone,” Tisch added.

A suspect charged with murder for the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson is in custody.

Here is everything we know so far about Luigi Mangione.