‘Strong person of interest' questioned in Pennsylvania in Manhattan CEO killing
A man in the Altoona, Pennsylvania, area is being questioned Monday in connection with last week’s UnitedHealthcare CEO killing in Manhattan, in part because he was found with a gun similar to the one used in the shooting, two sources familiar with the matter told NBC News. The man, described as a “strong” person of interest in the death of Brian Thompson, was arrested on firearms charges. The NYPD later identified him as 26-year-old Luigi Mangione and said he had a manifesto on his person that speaks to his possible alleged motivation in the killing. They said that manifesto included no specific threats to others, but noted “it does seem he does have some ill will towards corporate America.” Mangione has not been charged in Thompson’s death at this time. According to police, an employee at a local McDonald’s thought he looked suspicious, potentially matching the shooter’s description, and called police. Arriving officers noticed a fake ID and took him in for questioning. Once at the police station, the sources said, officers discovered Mangione had a gun similar to the one used in Thompson’s killing, as well as a silencer and a fake New Jersey ID. The suspected gunman allegedly used a fake New Jersey ID when he checked into a Manhattan hostel last month. Two senior law enforcement officials say Mangione had the name “Mark Rosario” on his fake NJ ID. Three sources familiar with the matter say the suspected gunman checked into the Upper West Side hostel using a fake NJ ID with the name “Mark Rosario.” Other fake IDs were found on Mangione Monday as well, investigators say. The suspected gunman also may have taken a bus to get out of New York. Investigators are looking into whether the Mangione had recently gotten off a bus from Philadelphia, according to a senior official. NYPD detectives are headed to the area to question the man, who sources said looked similar to the suspected gunman. Monday’s developments come as a private funeral is being held for Thompson, the 50-year-old executive gunned down at point-blank range as he headed to a midtown hotel for an investors’ conference last Wednesday, according to a source familiar with the plans. Five days after the shooting — by a man captured on surveillance cameras across Manhattan — the killer remained on the loose. The nation’s largest police department was after him, along with the FBI. Despite obtaining a clear image of his face among other evidence, authorities had yet to identify him. Late Saturday, police released two additional photos of the suspected shooter that appeared to be from a camera mounted inside a taxi. The first shows him outside the vehicle, and the second shows him looking through the partition between the back seat and the front of the cab. In both, his face is partially obscured by a blue, medical-style mask. The new photos came after authorities recovered a gray bag possibly belonging to the suspect in Central Park. The bag was taken, unopened, for forensic processing before investigators were to review its contents. Sources later said the bag contained a jacket and Monopoly money, but no gun. DNA testing is ongoing. Retracing the gunman’s steps using surveillance video, police say, it appears he left the city by bus soon after the shooting Wednesday morning outside the New York Hilton Midtown. He was seen on video at an uptown bus station about 45 minutes later, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said. With the high-profile search expanding across state lines, the FBI announced late Friday that it was offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction, adding to a reward of up to $10,000 that the NYPD has offered. Police say they believe the suspect acted alone. Hundreds of detectives were combing through video recordings and social media, vetting tips from the public and interviewing people who might have information, including Thompson’s family and coworkers and the shooter’s randomly assigned roommates at the Manhattan hostel where he stayed.
A man in the Altoona, Pennsylvania, area is being questioned Monday in connection with last week’s UnitedHealthcare CEO killing in Manhattan, in part because he was found with a gun similar to the one used in the shooting, two sources familiar with the matter told NBC News.
The man, described as a “strong” person of interest in the death of Brian Thompson, was arrested on firearms charges. The NYPD later identified him as 26-year-old Luigi Mangione and said he had a manifesto on his person that speaks to his possible alleged motivation in the killing. They said that manifesto included no specific threats to others, but noted “it does seem he does have some ill will towards corporate America.”
Mangione has not been charged in Thompson’s death at this time.
According to police, an employee at a local McDonald’s thought he looked suspicious, potentially matching the shooter’s description, and called police. Arriving officers noticed a fake ID and took him in for questioning.
Once at the police station, the sources said, officers discovered Mangione had a gun similar to the one used in Thompson’s killing, as well as a silencer and a fake New Jersey ID. The suspected gunman allegedly used a fake New Jersey ID when he checked into a Manhattan hostel last month.
Two senior law enforcement officials say Mangione had the name “Mark Rosario” on his fake NJ ID. Three sources familiar with the matter say the suspected gunman checked into the Upper West Side hostel using a fake NJ ID with the name “Mark Rosario.” Other fake IDs were found on Mangione Monday as well, investigators say.
The suspected gunman also may have taken a bus to get out of New York. Investigators are looking into whether the Mangione had recently gotten off a bus from Philadelphia, according to a senior official. NYPD detectives are headed to the area to question the man, who sources said looked similar to the suspected gunman.
Monday’s developments come as a private funeral is being held for Thompson, the 50-year-old executive gunned down at point-blank range as he headed to a midtown hotel for an investors’ conference last Wednesday, according to a source familiar with the plans.
Five days after the shooting — by a man captured on surveillance cameras across Manhattan — the killer remained on the loose. The nation’s largest police department was after him, along with the FBI. Despite obtaining a clear image of his face among other evidence, authorities had yet to identify him.
Late Saturday, police released two additional photos of the suspected shooter that appeared to be from a camera mounted inside a taxi. The first shows him outside the vehicle, and the second shows him looking through the partition between the back seat and the front of the cab. In both, his face is partially obscured by a blue, medical-style mask.
The new photos came after authorities recovered a gray bag possibly belonging to the suspect in Central Park. The bag was taken, unopened, for forensic processing before investigators were to review its contents. Sources later said the bag contained a jacket and Monopoly money, but no gun. DNA testing is ongoing.
Retracing the gunman’s steps using surveillance video, police say, it appears he left the city by bus soon after the shooting Wednesday morning outside the New York Hilton Midtown. He was seen on video at an uptown bus station about 45 minutes later, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said.
With the high-profile search expanding across state lines, the FBI announced late Friday that it was offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction, adding to a reward of up to $10,000 that the NYPD has offered. Police say they believe the suspect acted alone.
Hundreds of detectives were combing through video recordings and social media, vetting tips from the public and interviewing people who might have information, including Thompson’s family and coworkers and the shooter’s randomly assigned roommates at the Manhattan hostel where he stayed.
What's Your Reaction?
