UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson is gunned down in Manhattan, sparking a multi-state manhunt. As investigators close in on a suspect, shocking details emerge—was this murder a statement?Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. Visit www.wondery.com/links/luigi and start your free trial today!---STAY TUNED FOR MORE CONTENT - Law&Crime will continue to provide you with all the latest updates while we wait for the Luigi Mangione trial dates to be announced. Follow the LUIGI show page and stay subscribed to be the first to access new episodes, bonus content, and more -- available exclusively for Wondery+ members.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Chapter 1: What triggered the multi-state manhunt?
His movements were carefully analyzed, each frame of footage bringing law enforcement closer to understanding his escape route. By 6.48 a.m., he was gone. Cameras followed his retreat as he crossed the street, ducked into an alley and mounted a bicycle. In the final frames, he could be seen pedaling into the vast expanse of Central Park, vanishing into the early morning haze.
It was a seemingly flawless escape, but the digital eye of the city had already etched his movements into evidence. And there was more. As detectives followed the suspect's trail further backwards, more clues surfaced. They discovered he had checked into a New York City hostel using a fraudulent New Jersey ID. And on CCTV footage from the hostel, one critical image emerged.
In all the security footage before, the suspect's face had been covered.
When he was at the hostel and lowered his mask enough where you had a full facial picture of him.
a male figure cloaked in shadows, a hood drawn tightly over his head, obscuring much of his face, but the most anyone had captured until now.
He was clearly identifiable.
And that was really the key The dim lighting casts an eerie glow, accentuating the grainy texture of the footage. A faint smile plays on his lips, almost out of place, a cryptic expression that could be amusement, confidence, or something far more chilling. A scarf or gaiter wraps around his neck, concealing the lower half of his face, adding to the anonymity.
His jacket is thick, practical, blending into the muted tones of the background.
So the identity becomes really important.
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Chapter 2: Who was Brian Thompson and why was he targeted?
At 6.56 a.m., he emerges from Central Park, riding swiftly into the waking city. The streets are beginning to stir, but he moves with purpose, weaving through the morning. By 6.58 a.m., surveillance cameras capture him at 85th Street and Columbus Avenue, still on the e-bike, cutting through the early rush with precision.
But just two minutes later, at 7 a.m., he abandons the bike, now moving northbound on 86th Street on foot, blending into the flow of pedestrians. At 7.04 a.m., he hails a cab, slipping into the backseat. His escape is in motion. By 7.30 a.m., he's seen near the George Washington Bridge, close to the Port Authority bus station on 178th Street.
The final piece of footage shows him stepping inside, the doors closing behind him. And then, he's gone. Cameras and police had lost him. But they did find another clue deep in Central Park. While canvassing with drones, police noticed something out of place, a discarded backpack hastily hidden behind a pile of leaves.
He just killed somebody. So you're going to absolutely search that bag. You're going to gain any evidence that's in it. You're going to utilize that evidence to attempt to find him and certainly at trial to show his mind and his processes for the crime that he committed.
Inside was a Tommy Hilfiger jacket and bizarrely, a stack of Monopoly money. It was strange, almost taunting. Was this a message? A game? This early on in an investigation, those questions don't matter.
There's always circumstantial evidence, but more importantly, it's the physical evidence that you really want because you need something to tie someone directly to this event. And then later on, if you can come up With the motivation, that's always helpful too, right? Sort of connecting all these dots or connecting all these puzzle pieces to make the puzzle complete.
While the NYPD were on their breathless hunt, news of the murder sent shockwaves through the country. The CEO of one of America's largest corporations gunned down in broad daylight? It seemed unthinkable. At United Healthcare headquarters in Minnetonka, Minnesota, the company lowered its flags to half staff. Brian Thompson's colleagues, family, and friends were in mourning.
But outside corporate boardrooms, a different reaction was forming. Online, the unknown assailant's actions became a symbol. Was this an act of vengeance against a system that had denied health care to millions? It was only a matter of time before the public would get their answer. Five days later came the tip that cracked the case across state lines.
Earlier this morning in Altoona, Pennsylvania, members of the Altoona Police Department arrested Luigi Mangione, a 26-year-old male on firearms charges. At this time, he is believed to be our person of interest in the brazen targeted murder of Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealthcare, last Wednesday in Midtown Manhattan.
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Chapter 3: How did the shooter escape and what evidence was left behind?
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