What to know about the ‘strong person of interest’ in UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting
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On Monday, officials named a "strong person of interest" who was taken into custody for gun-related offenses and is currently being interrogated regarding the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, which occurred outside his hotel in Manhattan early last Wednesday.
On Monday, as the search for Thompson's murderer entered its sixth day, authorities achieved a significant development by interviewing a man in Pennsylvania. This came after they received a tip from an employee at a McDonald's in the state.
The individual was named on Monday afternoon as 26-year-old Luigi Mangione, and an employee confirmed his identity, according to information shared by officials at a press briefing.
On December 5, the NYPD shared unblurred images of the suspect, just one day after the deadly shooting. They also searched a hostel in Manhattan's Upper West Side where the suspect had been residing, as well as Central Park, where his backpack was found.
During the weekend, the police shared more footage from surveillance cameras showing the suspect seated in the back of a taxi.
The NYPD announced a $10,000 reward for any details about the shooter. Additionally, the FBI has joined the search and is offering a further $50,000 for tips that result in an arrest and conviction.
Here’s all the information we have regarding the individual involved:
Public Tip Guides Police To Pennsylvania
On Monday, authorities acted on a lead provided by a worker at a McDonald's in Altoona, Pennsylvania, who reported seeing a man resembling the individual they have been looking for.
According to the police, Mangione was dining at McDonald's when an employee recognized him.
Authorities reported during a press conference on Monday that a 26-year-old man was detained for questioning. They found that he had a ghost gun in his possession, which corresponds to the firearm thought to have been utilized in the execution-style murder.
The suspect was found in possession of a gun silencer and multiple counterfeit identification cards, one of which is a New Jersey ID that the NYPD suspects was used by the shooter.
At a press conference, New York Mayor Eric Adams stated that the individual who has been arrested fits the description of the person seen in the photographs and was found with belongings linked to the murder.
New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch announced that Mangione has been taken into custody on gun-related charges.
She informed the press conference that he is considered "someone we want to learn more about." She noted that a mix of traditional investigative methods and modern technology, along with assistance from the public, played a crucial role in making the arrest possible.
"We must always recognize the valuable role the public plays in keeping us informed," she emphasized.
Suspect Was Off Everyone's Radar
Joseph Kenny, the head of the NYPD's detective unit, stated that the police had not received Mangione's name until today.
He grew up in Maryland and had been living in Honolulu, Hawaii until not too long ago.
Authorities suspect that Mangione went to college in Pennsylvania and indicated that he has connections to San Francisco as well.
Kenny mentioned that, at this point in the investigation, authorities think Mangione was apparently working independently.
According to the police, when Mangione was taken into custody, they discovered a two-page paper he had that indicates he harbors negative feelings towards corporate America, as Kenny mentioned at the press briefing.
According to Tisch, the handwritten document reflects both his drive and way of thinking.
It is now being held by the Altoona police.
