Why Luigi Mangione’s Lawyer Refuses to Let Fans Pay His Legal Fees

UnitedHealth Group

Brian Thompson was the CEO of UnitedHealthcare. He archetypal joined the institution successful 2004 and held respective positions earlier taking connected the relation of CEO successful 2021.

Prior to moving astatine UnitedHealthcare, Thompson was employed astatine PwC, according to his LinkedIn profile. He besides graduated with honors from the University of Iowa with a Bachelor's grade successful concern medication arsenic an accounting large successful May 1997, the school's nationalist relations manager Steve Schmadeke told NBC News.

Thompson, who lived successful Minnesota, was joined to Paulette Thompson—though according to nationalist records viewed by E! News, they had been surviving successful abstracted homes—and was the begetter of 2 sons.He was shot and killed successful New York connected Dec. 4, 2024. Thompson was 50 years old.

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Patrol officers from the New York City Police Department’s Midtown North Precinct responded to a 911 telephone astatine 6:46 a.m. connected Dec. 4, 2024 regarding a idiosyncratic who was changeable successful beforehand of the New York Hilton Midtown hotel, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said successful a media briefing aboriginal that morning.

Kenny noted officers arrived astatine the country astatine 6:48 a.m. and recovered gunshot wounds connected Thompson’s backmost and leg. The main detective said Emergency Medical Services transported Thompson respective blocks to Mount Sinai West, wherever the CEO was pronounced dormant astatine 7:12 a.m.

“The unfortunate was successful New York City to talk astatine an capitalist conference," NYPD commissioner Jessica Tisch said during the media briefing. "It appears the fishy was lying successful hold for respective minutes. And arsenic the unfortunate was walking to the league hotel, the fishy approached from down and fired respective rounds, striking the unfortunate astatine slightest erstwhile successful the backmost and astatine slightest erstwhile successful the close calf. Many radical passed the suspect, but helium appeared to hold for his intended target.”

Tisch said the shooting appeared to beryllium a “pre-meditated, pre-planned, targeted attack” and not a random enactment of violence.

“The afloat investigative efforts of the New York City Police Department are good underway,” she noted, “and we volition not remainder until we place and apprehend the shooter successful this case.”

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According to Kenny, the shooter headed to the New York Hilton Midtown connected ft and arrived extracurricular the edifice 5 minutes earlier Thompson’s arrival.

In a video, Kenny continued, Thompson was seen walking unsocial towards the Hilton astatine 6:44 a.m. aft exiting his separate, adjacent edifice seemingly for a UnitedHealth Group investors league that was scheduled to statesman astatine 8 a.m. that day.

The main detective added the shooter—who ignored "numerous different pedestrians"—approached Thompson from behind, changeable him, walked towards him and continued shooting.

Kenny said the gunman past fled connected ft earlier getting connected an ebike, and the shooter was seen riding into Central Park astatine Center Drive astatine 6:48 a.m.

Kenny said 3 unrecorded nine-millimeter rounds and 3 discharged ammunition casings were recovered during the investigation. During a Dec. 6 property briefing, Kenny said the words “depose,” “delay” and “deny” were written connected the ammunition casing successful marker.

However, he’s noted the motive for the sidesplitting has yet to beryllium confirmed.

NYPD

During the Dec. 6 property briefing, Kenny said investigators person footage of the shooter arriving astatine Port Authority successful New York the nighttime of Nov. 24.

“We judge that that autobus originated successful Atlanta,” Kenny continued. “It has respective stops on the way, truthful we’re not definite wherever helium got connected the bus.”

After the shooter arrived astatine Port Authority, Kenny continued, the gunman took a cab to the vicinity of the Hilton hotel, wherever helium was for astir fractional an hr earlier traveling by cab to an Upper West Side hostel.

On the greeting of the shooting, Kenny added, the gunman near the hostel astatine 5:30 a.m. and arrived astatine the Hilton edifice astatine 5:41 a.m. Kenny said the gunman continued to locomotion successful the vicinity of the edifice earlier past going to a adjacent Starbucks, wherever helium purchased a bottled h2o and a snack. He past returned to the hotel, and the shooting occurred astatine 6:44 a.m.

Immediately after, the gunman fled the scene. Kenny said the shooter was seen entering Central Park astatine 60th St. and Center Drive astatine 6:48 a.m. and exiting the parkland done W. 77th St. and Central Park West astatine 6:56 a.m. At 7:00 a.m., Kenny added, the gunman was spotted connected W. 86^th St without the bike. And 4 minutes later, the main detective continued, the shooter got successful a cab astatine 86^th St. and Amsterdam Avenue. Kenny said the gunman was past seen successful the vicinity of the George Washington Bridge astatine 7:30 a.m.

Kenny told CNN connected Dec. 6 investigators thought the shooter near NYC aft helium was seen astatine Port Authority.

NYPD

During the Dec. 4 briefing, Kenny said the shooter appeared to beryllium a "light-skin male" who wore "a airy brownish oregon cream-colored jacket, a achromatic look mask, achromatic and achromatic sneakers and a precise distinctive grey backpack."

Over the adjacent fewer days, the NYPD released a series of photos of the idiosyncratic they were looking for with the person's look was covered with a disguise successful galore of the pictures.

A elder instrumentality enforcement authoritative told NBC News Dec. 5 the photos with the lowered look disguise came from surveillance video astatine an Upper West Side hostel, and 2 abstracted instrumentality enforcement officials noted to the outlet investigators were trying to find if the idiosyncratic utilized a fake ID and currency for a hostel room.

As for what led the idiosyncratic to little the look mask?

"Apparently, determination was an enactment portion helium was checking in, making casual conversation," Kenny said astatine the Dec. 6 briefing. "At immoderate point, helium pulled his disguise down and smiled astatine the clerk."

Kenny has besides said a cellphone was recovered successful an alley wherever the shooter fled earlier heading to the ebike, but it's unclear if it belonged to the gunman. Two instrumentality enforcement sources told NBC News a backpack was besides recovered successful Central Park.

Kenny said investigators are "looking astatine everything"—including Thompson's societal media and interviews with employees and family—that could assistance the case. They're besides moving with Minnesota and Atlanta instrumentality enforcement. 

Provided to NBC News

Pennsylvania’s Altoona Police Department arrested Luigi Mangione connected firearm charges Dec. 9.  According to a transgression docket obtained by NBC News, these see 2 felony charges—one of forgery and 1 of firearms not to beryllium carried without a license—as good arsenic three misdemeanors: tampering with records oregon identification, possessing instruments of a transgression and providing mendacious recognition to instrumentality enforcement.

NYPD commissioner Tisch said a McDonald’s worker recognized Mangione and that the Altoona constabulary were past called. When asked if helium had been to New York recently, Mangione "became quiescent and started to shake," police said per NBC News.

Tisch besides called Mangione a "person of interest" successful Thompson's execution and spoke astir the efforts to find him, with her thanking instrumentality enforcement partners and the public.

"For conscionable implicit 5 days, our NYPD investigators combed done thousands of hours of video, followed up connected hundreds of tips, and processed each spot of forensic evidence: DNA, digit prints, IP addresses and truthful overmuch much to tighten the net," she said. "We deployed drones, canine units, and scuba divers. We leveraged the domain consciousness system, Argus cameras and conducted aviation canvases, and our detectives besides went doorway to doorway interviewing imaginable witnesses and doing the bully aged fashioned constabulary enactment that our investigators are celebrated for. This operation of aged schoolhouse detective enactment and caller property exertion is what led to this effect today."

Provided to NBC News

In summation to "acting suspiciously," Tisch added, Mangione was "carrying aggregate fraudulent IDs arsenic good arsenic a U.S. passport."

“Upon further investigation, officers recovered a firearm connected his idiosyncratic arsenic good arsenic a suppressor, some accordant with the limb utilized successful the murder," she continued successful the Dec. 9 briefing, per a video shared by NBC News. "They besides recovered clothing, including a disguise accordant with those worn by our wanted individual."

Tisch added officers besides recovered a “fraudulent New Jersey ID” that matched the 1 the idiosyncratic utilized to cheque into the New York hostel anterior to the shooting.

"Additionally,” she continued, “officers recovered a hand-written papers that speaks to some his information and mindset.”

NBC News

On Dec. 9, Manhattan prosecutors filed a execution complaint against Mangione, according to tribunal documents obtained by NBC News. The 26-year-old is besides facing 3 counts of transgression possession of a limb (two successful the second-degree for loaded firearm and 1 successful the 3rd grade specified arsenic for a silencer) and 1 number of possessing a forged instrument.

He has yet to participate a plea for immoderate charges.

Pennsylvania Department of Corrections via AP

According to NBC News, citing the NYPD, Mangione had 3 pages of writings connected him that totaled little than 300 words erstwhile helium was taken into custody. Three elder instrumentality enforcement officials told the outlet these writings read, successful part, "Frankly these parasites had it coming."

In the writings, the officials continued, Mangione said helium acted alone. However, the officials told NBC News they haven't ruled retired different actors astatine this time.

“To the Feds, I’ll support this short, due to the fact that I bash respect what you bash for our country," Mangione's writings read, officials told NBC News. "To prevention you a lengthy investigation, I authorities plainly that I wasn’t moving with anyone.”

Officials said Mangione besides added, "I bash apologize for immoderate strife oregon traumas but it had to beryllium done.”

However, Tisch noted Mangione's motive has yet to beryllium confirmed.

"I deliberation erstwhile we look astatine the manifesto, oregon that three-page written papers that was recovered, you spot anti-corporatist sentiment, a batch of issues with the healthcare industry," she said successful a Dec. 10 Today interview. "But arsenic to peculiar circumstantial motive, that volition travel retired arsenic this probe continues to unfold implicit the adjacent weeks and months."

Jeff Swensen/Getty Images

Mangione attended a proceeding astatine the Blair County Courthouse successful Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania connected Dec. 10. As helium arrived, NBC News reported, helium yelled retired to families, "It’s wholly retired of interaction and an insult to the quality of the American people."

Per the outlet, Mangione did not waive extradition to New York and was denied bail. As a result, helium volition stay successful Pennsylvania's SCI Huntingdon prison.

His lawyer Thomas Dickey told reporters that Mangione volition plead not blameworthy successful Pennsylvania and volition apt bash the aforesaid successful New York.

"I haven’t seen immoderate grounds that says he’s the shooter,” helium said, per NBC News. “Remember, and this is not conscionable a tiny thing: A cardinal conception of American justness is the presumption of innocence, and until you’re proven blameworthy beyond a tenable doubt."

Baltimore Sun / Contributor / GETTY IMAGES

Mangione is simply a fishy successful the execution of Brian Thompson and is facing respective different charges successful some Pennsylvania and New York, including forgery and transgression possession of a weapon.

He's an Ivy League graduate, having received a Bachelor of Science successful engineering successful 2020 and a Masters of Science successful engineering astatine the University of Pennsylvania, the schoolhouse confirmed to NBC News.

NYPD Chief of Detectives Kenny shared further details connected Mangione's upbringing, saying helium was calved and raised successful Maryland. His astir caller code is listed arsenic Honolulu but helium besides has connections to San Francisco, Kenny told NBC News.

After Mangione's arrest, his household released a connection connected X.

"Unfortunately, we cannot remark connected quality reports regarding Luigi Mangione," they said successful the Dec. 9 post. "We lone cognize what we person work successful the media. Our household is shocked and devastated by Luigi's arrest. We connection our prayers to the household of Brian Thompson and we inquire radical to commune for each involved. We are devastated by this news."

Business Wire/AP

After learning of the shooting, Thompson’s household mourned his passing.

“We are shattered to perceive astir the senseless sidesplitting of our beloved Brian,” a household connection obtained by NBC affiliate KARE successful Minneapolis connected Dec. 5 read. “Brian was an incredibly loving, generous, talented antheral who genuinely lived beingness to the fullest and touched truthful galore lives. Most importantly, Brian was an incredibly loving begetter to our 2 sons and volition beryllium greatly missed. We admit your condolences and petition implicit privateness arsenic our household moves done this hard time.”

Thompson’s woman Paulette besides recalled however her hubby had received threats anterior to his death.

"Yes, determination had been immoderate threats," she told NBC News Dec. 5. "Basically, I don’t know, a deficiency of coverage? I don’t cognize details. I conscionable cognize that helium said determination were immoderate radical that had been threatening him."

Stephen Maturen/Getty Images

UnitedHealth Group, the genitor institution of UnitedHealthcare, besides expressed however it was "deeply saddened and shocked astatine the passing of our beloved friend" Thompson, flying its flags astatine half-mast astatine firm office successful Minnesota.

"Brian was a highly respected workfellow and person to each who worked with him," a Dec. 4 statement from the organization read. "We are moving intimately with the New York Police Department and inquire for your patience and knowing during this hard time. Our hearts spell retired to Brian’s household and each who were adjacent to him.”

And portion the institution noted "our hearts are broken," it shared successful a Dec. 5 connection that it has besides "been touched by the immense outpouring of kindness and enactment successful the hours since this horrific transgression took place."

"So galore patients, consumers, wellness attraction professionals, associations, authorities officials and different caring radical person taken clip retired of their time to scope out," the connection read. "We are thankful, adjacent arsenic we grieve. Our priorities are, archetypal and foremost, supporting Brian’s family; ensuring the information of our employees; and moving with instrumentality enforcement to bring the perpetrator to justice. We, astatine UnitedHealth Group, volition proceed to beryllium determination for those who beryllium upon america for their wellness care. We inquire that everyone respect the family’s privateness arsenic they mourn the nonaccomplishment of their husband, father, member and friend."

Stephen Maturen/Getty Images

However, there's besides been public criticism astir UnitedHealthcare, Thompson and America's healthcare strategy overall.

This has included online conversations astir security companies' assertion denial rates arsenic good arsenic a look astatine accusations against Thompson.

For instance, successful a class-action suit filed by the City of Hollywood Firefighters' Pension Fund successful May 2024 and obtained by NBC News, Thompson was accused of selling much than $15 cardinal of his idiosyncratic UnitedHealth shares aft allegedly learning of an probe of the institution by the U.S. Department of Justice earlier the nationalist did. When asked astir the trades allegedly made by Thompson and different executives, a UnitedHealth spokesperson told Bloomberg successful April 2024 "these directors and officers followed our protocols and received support from the company."

The lawsuit, per the BBC, remains active.

And portion a motive for the shooting hasn't been revealed, galore outlets person noted the words “depose,” “delay” and “deny” on the ammunition casings are akin to the rubric of the 2010 publication Delay Deny Defend: Why Insurance Companies Don't Pay Claims and What You Can Do About It.

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro slammed "deeply disturbing" online reactions to the killing: "In America," helium said astatine a Dec. 9 property conference, per NBC News' video, "we bash not termination radical successful acold humor to resoluteness argumentation differences oregon explicit a viewpoint."

(E! and NBC News are some portion of the NBCUniversal family).