Luigi Mangione, the suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, is fighting his extradition to New York after he was arrested for the grizzly murder that took place last week.
He was arrested on Monday at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, and was allegedly in possession of a gun, bullets, multiple fake IDs, and cash.
Former classmates of the suspected shooter are finding it hard to believe he is accused of killing United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson on a New York sidewalk.
On Tuesday, Mangione’s best friend, Tracy Le, a data analyst based in New York, decided to speak out about her friend.
She used one shocking word to describe his character on social media.
Le said she was one of Luigi Mangione’s “best, closest and most trusted friends” and said she was left feeling “shaken” and “blindsided” by the news of his arrest.
“I am heartbroken. I am overwhelmed.”
As he entered the courtroom Tuesday, Luigi Mangione could be heard yelling, in part, “it’s completely out of touch and an insult to the intelligence of the American people. It’s a lived experience!”
It was the first public comments from him since his arrest.
Family of Unitedhealthcare CEO Shooting Suspect Luigi Mangione Breaks Their Silence
Luigi Mangione, the suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, was denied bail this week as he faces a murder charge.
The 26-year-old Ivy League graduate from a prominent Maryland real estate family has everyone who knows him personally in shock.
The family of Luigi have now broken their silence for the first time following his arrest on Monday.
Mangione’s cousin, Maryland State Delegate Nino Mangione, released a statement on behalf of the family, saying in part, “We only know what we have read in the media,” the family statement said.
“Our family is shocked and devastated by Luigi’s arrest. We offer our prayers to the family of Brian Thompson, and we ask people to pray for all involved. We are devastated by this news.”
Luigi Mangione initially faced charges of possessing an unlicensed firearm, forgery, and providing false identification to police. Prosecutors in Manhattan later added a murder charge.
