Crime
UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson killer identified as Luigi Mangione, an ex-Ivy League student
The person of interest in the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson has been identified as 26-year-old Luigi Mangione, a tech-savvy former Ivy League student from Towson, Maryland.
Mangione was apprehended Monday morning at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, following a nationwide manhunt.
The killing, described as a calculated execution, occurred outside a Manhattan hotel last week.While Mangione is in custody, charges have not yet been filed.
Investigators are working to piece together his motives and potential involvement.
Sources report that Mangione was found with a manifesto that allegedly outlines grievances against the U.S. healthcare industry.
The document criticizes the sector for prioritizing profit over public welfare and accuses it of questionable ethical practices.
Law enforcement officials suggest Mangione acted alone, and his writings align with anti-capitalist, environmentalist, and anti-establishment ideologies.
Fake New Jersey ID from UnitedHealthCare CEO murder suspect Luigi Mangione.
Authorities also uncovered Mangione’s online activity, which includes interactions with anti-capitalist and climate-change content.
Particularly troubling to investigators are his liked quotes from notorious figures, including Ted Kaczynski, the so-called “Unabomber,” whose writings condemned modern society and technology. One liked quote by Kaczynski reads:
“Imagine a society that subjects people to conditions that make them terribly unhappy then gives them the drugs to take away their unhappiness. … Instead of removing the conditions that make people depressed, modern society gives them antidepressant drugs.”
Mangione, described as exceptionally bright, was valedictorian of his 2016 graduating class at the prestigious Gilman School in Baltimore, where tuition exceeds $40,000 annually.
He was an accomplished soccer player and intended to pursue studies in artificial intelligence, cognitive science, and computer science at the University of Pennsylvania, according to a 2016 interview.
Mangione’s capture followed tips from vigilant McDonald’s staff who recognized him from widely circulated images. At the time of his arrest, he was reportedly in possession of a firearm and a silencer-like device, both believed to be linked to the murder.
While Mangione’s manifesto offers potential insight into his motivations, investigators are still determining whether these ideological views directly influenced the murder.
The case remains under active investigation, with law enforcement urging anyone with additional information to come forward.
Crime
Attorneys Argue Jacob Bard Actions in Deadly Kentucky State University Shooting Were Legally Justified
Attorneys representing Jacob Bard, the man accused in a deadly shooting at Kentucky State University, contend that his actions were legally justified and undertaken in defense of his family amid what they describe as a violent and uncontrolled situation on campus.
In a press release issued Monday afternoon, Bard’s legal team from the Indiana-based law firm Danks & Danks asserted that Bard “was completely justified under the law in his use of deadly force.”
Bard is accused of fatally shooting one Kentucky State University student and wounding another during an incident at a campus dormitory.
According to the attorneys’ statement, Bard traveled to Kentucky State University after his younger son reported being attacked on multiple occasions.
The release alleges that on Monday, December 8, a group of approximately 20 to 30 individuals gathered outside the son’s dormitory, some allegedly armed, and began beating on the door. Campus police were reportedly called to respond to the disturbance.
The following morning, Bard and his wife met with Kentucky State University police. While the attorneys stated that officers appeared sincere in their efforts, they claimed it was evident to the family that campus police were “ill-prepared to deal with the out-of-control and violent environment.”
The legal team further alleges that both the university and its police department failed to adequately address what they described as multiple armed and violent felonies against Bard’s sons, ages 18 and 19, as well as other students in the days preceding the shooting.
Those alleged incidents included burglaries and armed assaults.
Later that morning, the family attended a meeting at Young Hall with campus police and a university dean.
According to the release, the meeting left the family convinced that the university would not be able to maintain a safe environment, prompting them to begin removing the son’s belongings from the dormitory.
When the family returned to the residence hall, the attorneys claim that individuals previously involved in the alleged assaults were present, despite assurances they would not be allowed inside.
The statement further alleges that those individuals photographed the family and made verbal threats.
The attorneys contend that, even with two armed Kentucky State University police officers present, a group of 20 to 30 individuals gathered in the dormitory lobby and “violently and viciously attacked” Bard’s son and family members.
According to the release, Bard’s son was slammed into the concrete floor and beaten by multiple people, and the officer on scene allegedly lost control of the situation.
“In the chaos,” the attorneys wrote, Bard attempted to pull attackers off his son but was struck himself. Believing his son to be in imminent danger of death or serious physical injury, Bard then drew his firearm and shot two individuals whom the attorneys say were actively assaulting his son.
The legal team also stated that no charges have been filed against others allegedly involved in the confrontation and claimed the Bard family has continued to receive death threats.
The release further alleges that the mother of the deceased student has publicly called for retaliation against Bard’s son and sought assistance from criminal groups—claims that have not been independently verified by authorities.
The case against Bard was presented to a grand jury on December 16.
During a previous court hearing, a detective testified that at least one video reviewed by investigators did not show the shooting victims assaulting Bard’s son.
The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities have not issued a final determination regarding the circumstances surrounding the shooting.