Credit: Alyssa Ao

What you need to know:
On Tuesday, Dec. 17, 26-year-old Luigi Mangione was arrested and charged with the murder of the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, Brian Thompson. Thompson was fatally shot in his torso and leg outside the New York Hilton Midtown Hotel around 6:46 a.m. on Dec. 4. He passed away shortly after sustaining the gunshot wounds.

Mangione was arrested at a McDonalds in Altoona, Pennsylvania, where police reportedly found him in possession of a gun, cash, bullets and fake IDs. The 3D printed gun that Mangione carried in his backpack matched the description of the gun used during the murder. Additionally, Mangione’s fingerprints and DNA were later found at the crime scene. A water bottle and granola bar found near the scene contained Mangione’s prints, as well as a cell phone recovered nearby.

Police obtained a spiral notebook containing entries related to the murder during the arrest. According to the New York Times, officials say an entry states Mangione considered using a bomb but decided to use a gun instead, so that innocent people wouldn’t get hurt, and he could be more targeted with his attack.

As far as records show, Mangione was never a customer of UnitedHealthcare and never dealt with the company. Instead, it’s likely that he targeted UnitedHealthcare because it’s the largest healthcare insurance company in the U.S..

The bullets found at the scene of the crime were engraved with the words “deny,” “defend” and “depose” on the casings. According to ABC News, police say that these words may be a reference to the “three Ds of insurance.” The three rules of thumb are used by insurance companies as an excuse to reject payment claims of customers.

Why it matters:

This profound crime has revealed the underlying anger some Americans feel about the healthcare system. Protests and outrage have risen in multiple states across the country.

A sudden wave of Mangione related merchandise has also sparked controversy online. Products bearing the phrases “Deny Defend Depose” and “Free Luigi” are being sold across shopping websites. While some websites have chosen to pull the products, others are allowing resellers to continue to bring in revenue from the merchandise.

Other sources to look at:
“UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting suspect Luigi Mangione may soon return to NYC” – ABC News

“Who was Brian Thompson, healthcare CEO gunned down in New York?” – BBC News

“What we know about Luigi Mangione, suspect charged in UnitedHealthcare CEO’s killing” – CBS News

“Suspect in C.E.O.’s Killing Fights Extradition to New York” – New York Times