The first public statement from the alleged murderer of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson revealed no end to the morbid infatuation from his supporters.
“I am overwhelmed…and grateful…”
In early December, security cameras and witnesses captured the assassination of the father and husband outside a Midtown Manhattan hotel, sparking a manhunt that ended with the arrest of a suspect at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania. More than two months later, alleged killer Luigi Mangione broke his silence at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center to address his adoring fans.
“I am overwhelmed by — and grateful for — everyone who has written me to share their stories and express their support,” began the statement published on a website created by the defendant’s legal defense team. “Powerfully, this support has transcended political, racial, and even class divisions, as mail has flooded MDC from across the country, and around the globe. While it is impossible for me to reply to most letters, please know that I read every one that I receive. Thank you again to everyone who took the time to write. I look forward to hearing more in the future.”
Following the assassination, the darker side of society surfaced to celebrate the death of Thompson over personal grievances with the health insurance industry and corporate America writ large.
Those positions swelled further when admirers of the wet work caught a glimpse of the suspect, including shirtless images, leading even corporate media talking heads to opine on the swooning.
The fanfare for Mangione had been so considerable that his legal defense also provided a frequently asked questions section on the site to detail what was and was not permissible to send their client, as well as a link to a crowdfunding site to aid in his defense.
“Please note,” they reminded, “that every photo that is received is screened and reviewed by law enforcement.”
The suspect pled not guilty to state and federal charges that included murder in the first degree in furtherance of terrorism, murder in the second degree, internet stalking resulting in death and using a firearm to commit murder, a federal charge that could mean the death penalty with a conviction.
As for the crowdfunding effort, nearly 14,000 donors had raised more than $400,000 for his legal defense toward a goal of $500,000 at the time of this post, including a number of anonymous donors who forked over thousands to support Mangione.
Readily apparent to social media commentators days before the streaming platform Max was set to premiere a new installment of “Investigation Discovery” that explored the question, “Who is Luigi Mangione?” was the fact that the legal defense team had chosen St. Valentine’s Day to publish the message for their client’s supporters.
Bro thinks he’s writing from exile like he’s Napoleon on Elba.
— Shrivathsan L S (@hrivaths17656) February 15, 2025
The new “Che Guevara” of the left.
— Cher (@calamity911) February 15, 2025
On valentines day?? Well played
— tropical waves ️ (@trhopicalwaves) February 15, 2025
Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn't researching current events and their impacts, you'll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.
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