NYPD chief says gun on suspect matches shell casings found at crime scene

Luigi Nicolas Mangioni, the suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, challenged his extradition to New York at a court hearing on Tuesday, though that is not expected to significantly delay legal proceedings .

Although Mangione possesses writings that hint at a hatred of corporate greed, little new information has emerged about his possible motivations. He remains incarcerated in Pennsylvania.

This is the latest:

The suspect is portrayed by some as a romantic figure

Little new information has emerged about his possible motives, although the writings Mangione owns hint at a vague hatred of corporate greed and anger at “parasitic” health insurance companies.

The detail came after earlier tips showed some bullets recovered from the scene had the words “deny,” “defend” and “destroy” written on them, mirroring the language used by critics of the insurance industry. Many of the posts featured a clear disdain for health insurance companies — no mention of lives lost — and what some called vague attempts at humor.

“He took action against private health insurance companies, that’s what he did. He was a brave Italian martyr. In this house, Luigi Mangione is the hero, end of story!” said an anonymous person said in X’s last post, which has nearly 2 million views.

The debate over whether the suspect is a ‘hero’ offers a glimpse into an unusual American moment

Is he a hero? Killer? Both?

Around the same time, a #FreeLuigi meme featuring the bearded plumber from Super Mario Bros. was popping up online, with commenters sharing the meme showing Tony Soprano reading The name of Luigi Mangione, the hero charged with murdering the CEO of UnitedHealthcare in Manhattan.

There were posts praising Mangione’s physique and appearance, speculation about who could play him on “Saturday Night Live,” and others condemning and even threatening people at a Pennsylvania McDonald’s to call police if they found him.

It was all too much for Pennsylvania’s governor, a rising Democrat who came close to becoming a vice presidential nominee this year. Josh Shapiro decried what he sees as growing support for “vigilante justice.”

Like many events happening in the United States right now, the cases of Brian Thompson and Luigi Mangioni have both captivated and polarized a media-saturated nation.

▶ Learn more about public perception of the case

NYPD matches bullet casings in United Healthcare CEO slaying to gun found on suspect

The gun found on the suspect who killed United Healthcare’s chief executive matched bullet casings found at the crime scene, New York’s police chief said Wednesday.

Commissioner Jessica Tisch also said lab results matched suspect Luigi Mangione’s fingerprints to water bottles and protein bar wrappers found near the murder scene.

Authorities believe suspect took steps to avoid radar after shooting

At the time of his arrest, Mangione had bags containing cellphones and laptops to prevent the devices from transmitting signals that authorities could use to track them, prosecutors told a Pennsylvania hearing Tuesday.

Luigi Mangione remains jailed without bail in Pennsylvania

There he was charged with firearms offenses and forgery.

Manhattan prosecutors are working to bring him to New York, where he faces murder charges in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson last week.

Authorities said Mangione possessed writings that suggested a hatred of corporate greed.

Authorities are analyzing phone fingerprints found in investigation

No fingerprints were found on the bullet that killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, but one was found on a cell phone that was found, NYPD Chief Detective Joseph Kenney told CBS New York on Tuesday.

He said evidence was being processed, but he did not say whether it matched Mangione.

Investigators found a spiral notebook the suspect described in his letter, officials said

Among the items seized by investigators was a spiral notebook, a law enforcement official said.

Luigi Nicholas Mangione described the notebook and wrote that it contained clues about the attack in a three-page handwritten letter found by Pennsylvania State Police when he was arrested.

According to the official, “the spiral notebook (if there was one) contained some scattered notes and to-do lists illustrating the gist of it,” Mangione wrote.

The law enforcement official was not authorized to disclose information about the investigation and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

— Michael R. Sisak

What has Mangione posted online?

The X account associated with Mangione has recently posted about the negative impact of smartphones on children; healthy eating and exercise habits; psychological theories; and a quote from Indian philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti , talks about the dangers of “adapting well to a sick society.”

What evidence was collected?

In addition to a three-page handwritten document indicating he had “malicious intentions toward corporate America,” NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenney said Mangione also owned a “ghost gun,” which is a weapon that can be assembled at home and is difficult to use. Go track.

New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said police questioned Mangione, who was acting suspiciously and carrying multiple forged identification documents and U.S. passports. Police also found a sound suppressor or silencer “consistent with the weapon used in the murder,” she said.

He had clothing and a mask similar to those worn by the shooter, as well as a fake New Jersey ID card that matched the one the suspect used when he checked into a New York City hotel before the shooting, the commissioner said.

Mangione battles back pain

Josiah Ryan, a spokesman for a “co-living” space in Honolulu where the suspect lived in 2022, said Mangione had suffered from severe back pain since he was a child, which affected many aspects of his life.

Mangione left Surfbreak for surgery on the mainland, then returned to Honolulu and rented an apartment, Ryan said. An image posted on a social media account associated with Mangione showed an X-ray showing a metal rod and multiple screws inserted into someone’s lower spine.

Mangione was born into a life of country clubs and privilege.

His grandfather was a self-made real estate developer and philanthropist.

“Our family is shocked and saddened by Luigi’s arrest,” Mangione’s family said in a statement posted on social media late Monday by his cousin, Del Nino Mangione of Maryland. “Our prayers go out to Brian Thompson’s family and ask for prayers for everyone involved.”

From January to June 2022, Luigi Mangione lived at Surfbreak, a “co-living” space on the edge of Honolulu’s tourist resort Waikiki. Josiah Ryan, a spokesman for owner and founder RJ Martin, said he was widely regarded as a “great guy” even though he had long suffered from severe back pain that affected part of his life. In many ways.

How is the situation now?

Wearing an orange jumpsuit, Mangione spent much of Tuesday’s hearing in Pennsylvania looking straight ahead, occasionally consulting documents, rocking his chair or looking back into the gallery. At one point, he began to speak in response to court discussion but was silenced by his attorney.

Judge David Consiglio denied Mangione bail and his lawyer Thomas Dickey told the court his client did not agree to extradition and wanted a hearing on the matter.

Blair County District Attorney Peter Weeks said that while Mangione will create “additional hurdles” for law enforcement by fighting extradition, it won’t be a significant obstacle to sending him to New York.