The case has quickly become a viral sensation, with social media and news outlets buzzing with speculation about the motives behind the alleged crime.
SHAH ALAM - Luigi Mangione, a programmer and app developer, has become the subject of intense online attention following his alleged involvement in the shooting of UnitedHealthcare Chief Executive Officer Brian Thompson.
The incident has ignited heated discussions, partly due to Mangione's impressive academic credentials and the strange circumstances surrounding his arrest.
The case has quickly become a viral sensation, with social media and news outlets buzzing with speculation about the motives behind the alleged crime.
Some even referred to this as a ‘unifying moment’, pointing to how Mangione’s story has captivated audiences worldwide.
Here’s what we know so far.
The Thompson shooting
The murder of Thompson took place on Dec 4, 2024, outside of the New York Hilton Midtown during an investor conference.
Surveillance footage showed a masked gunman targeting Thompson at close range before fleeing through Central Park on a bicycle.
Investigators later recovered a backpack containing a jacket and Monopoly money, believed to belong to the suspect.
These discoveries, along with hundreds of hours of surveillance footage, have painted a chilling picture of a calculated and premeditated attack.
Social media platforms are flooded with discussions about the motivations and the broader implications of corporate resentment manifesting in such violent ways.
Mangione's arrest
Following the shooting, the New York City Police Department (NYPD) launched an extensive investigation, uncovering critical forensic evidence, including video footage and items left at the scene.
The case took a significant turn when Mangione was spotted in Altoona, Pennsylvania.
26-year-old Mangione from Maryland was arrested on Dec 9, 2024, at a McDonald’s in Altoona.
His arrest followed a tip-off from an employee who recognised him from police-distributed images linking him to the murder of Thompson.
At the time of his arrest, Mangione was found in possession of a ‘ghost gun’ resembling the weapon used in the crime, a mask matching the suspect's description and writings that revealed anti-corporate sentiments.
Authorities allege that his manifesto, discovered during the arrest, justified violence against corporations, referring to them as ‘parasites’.
Mangione was initially detained on unrelated charges, including possession of a ghost gun, forgery and providing false identification to law enforcement.
Among his belongings, police found several fake IDs, including one used to check into a Manhattan hostel prior to the murder.
The three-page manifesto further detailed his grievances with corporate America and his rationale for targeting its leaders.
These findings have become crucial evidence as investigators work to unravel the events leading up to the high-profile murder.
Who is Luigi Mangione?
Mangione's academic and professional accomplishments have added an unusual twist to the case.
A former valedictorian of the prestigious Gilman School in Maryland, he later graduated with both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania in 2020.
At Penn, he studied advanced fields such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, even founding a video game development club.
Before the alleged crime, he worked as a data engineer in California and was last known to reside in Honolulu, Hawaii.
He was also the founder of Penn’s first video game development club, Upgrade and worked as a data engineer at TrueCar until 2023.
His intellectual achievements have left many questioning how someone with such promise could be linked to such an act.
Investigations
Currently in police custody in Altoona, Pennsylvania, Mangione faced several charges unrelated to the murder, including carrying an unlicensed firearm and possessing fake IDs.
Authorities have confirmed that his extradition to New York was underway and he was expected to face charges for the homicide.
The NYPD also emphasised that forensic evidence strongly connected Mangione to the crime, although investigations were ongoing to determine whether anyone else was involved.
Internet sensation and Memecoin phenomenon
What has truly stunned many was the online reaction to Mangione’s alleged actions.
The case has gone viral, not just because of the horrific nature of the crime, but also due to the rise of a Memecoin linked to Mangione.
Shortly after his arrest, the cryptocurrency’s market capitalisation soared to USD $29 million as internet users speculated on the connection between the viral case and financial gain.
This phenomenon highlights how quickly public attention can translate into financial speculation, especially in cases as shocking as this one.
Public reactions
The reactions to Mangione’s alleged actions have been dividing.
While some online commentators have expressed sympathy for his anti-corporate views, others have strongly condemned his alleged violent actions.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro condemned those who have celebrated the killing, calling Mangione a murderer, not a hero.
He urged citizens to show the same courage as the McDonald’s employee who alerted authorities, emphasising the importance of collaboration in the fight against such tragedies.
On TikTok, Mangione’s story has become a viral topic, with some users referring to him as a ‘modern-day Robin Hood.’
User @yvanabee remarked on the widespread fascination, saying, “People from all ages, backgrounds and political affiliations are treating him like a modern-day Robin Hood. It’s like a unifying moment for the American people, with many feeling a sense of justice being served.”
Others have jokingly provided fake alibis in the comments, with posts like, “He was baking cookies with my grandma all day,” and hashtags like #FreeLuigi are gaining traction.
However, some users, such as @TKcKT85, strongly oppose this glorification, emphasising that a human life was taken.
Mangione’s alleged online accounts have seen a surge in followers, with one X (formerly Twitter) account reaching 240k followers.
Meanwhile, his mugshot has been widely shared, and a jacket similar to the one worn by the Mangione has skyrocketed in popularity.
According to reports, over 700 units of the Levi’s Sherpa Lined Two-Pocket Hooded Trucker Jacket were sold within 48 hours on Macy’s website.
Adding to the spectacle, a Mangione lookalike contest has become a social media sensation.
Participants humorously recreate his appearance, sparking both amusement and criticism.
In one instance, a contestant at an NYC contest joked, “I am the guy. I just got back from Atlanta,” before winning the event.
