Authorities have begun piecing together the background of Luigi Mangione, a 26-year-old man arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of United Healthcare’s CEO in New York City last week.
Mangione was apprehended on Monday in Altoona, Pennsylvania, after being identified at a McDonald’s.
Mangione, a Baltimore native, was charged with firearms and fake ID offenses in Pennsylvania. New York officials are expected to bring murder charges soon.
When arrested, he was found with a 3D-printed pistol, a silencer, and a loaded magazine, along with multiple IDs, including a fake one used to check into a New York hostel.
Authorities recovered a three-page handwritten document that reportedly detailed grievances with the U.S. healthcare system.
It contained statements reflecting his “motivation and mindset,” including: “These parasites had it coming” and “I do apologize for any strife and trauma, but it had to be done,” according to law enforcement
Mangione grew up in Baltimore, Maryland, and has ties to San Francisco and Honolulu.
He attended the elite Gilman School, where he was valedictorian.
A former classmate, Freddie Leatherbury, described him as someone who “had everything going for him,” coming from a wealthy family.
He later graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, earning both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in computer science.
While there, he founded a video game development club and was described by a peer as a “super normal” and “smart person.
Mangione worked as a data engineer for TrueCar, though his employment ended in 2023, according to a company spokesperson.
He also interned at Fixarixis, a video game developer.
Mangione’s family, reportedly prominent in Baltimore, owns several businesses, including a country club and nursing homes.
He is also said to be a cousin of Republican state lawmaker Nino Mangione.
Mangione’s social media activity has provided insights into his mindset.
On Goodreads, he gave a positive review to Industrial Society and Its Future by Theodore Kaczynski, also known as the Unabomber manifesto. In his review, he wrote,
“Violence is necessary to survive. You may not like his methods, but… it’s not terrorism, it’s war and revolution.”
Police said Mangione initially provided false identification but eventually admitted his true identity.
He “became quiet and started to shake” when asked about his recent whereabouts in New York, according to court documents.
As the investigation continues, authorities are building a fuller picture of the man accused in a case that has drawn national attention.
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