The assassination of UnitedHealthcare C.E.O. Brian Thompson on Dec. 4, 2024, has not only shocked the nation, but also cast a glaring spotlight on the deep-seated frustrations many Americans harbor toward the health insurance industry. The alleged assailant, 26-year-old Luigi Mangione, a University of Pennsylvania graduate with a promising future, supposedly acted out of opposition to what he perceived as systemic corruption and greed within the healthcare industry.

Following back surgery in the summer of 2023, Mangione ceased communication with his family and friends. This led his mother, Kathleen, to report him missing to the San Francisco Police Department on Nov. 18, 2024, stating that she had last spoken with him in July. Despite the Mangione family’s efforts, including hiring a private investigator, they could not locate him.

This period of isolation for Mangione culminated in the shocking incident involving the UnitedHealthcare CEO, leaving his family and the broader community coping with what may have led to such a tragedy.

Mangione allegedly fatally shot Thompson outside the New York Hilton Midtown hotel, where the CEO was scheduled to speak at a healthcare conference. The assailant approached with deliberate intent, firing multiple shots before fleeing the scene on an electric bicycle. A subsequent manhunt led to Mangione’s arrest in Altoona, Pennsylvania, where authorities discovered a 3D-printed 9mm handgun equipped with a silencer, multiple fake identification documents, and a handwritten manifesto expressing disdain for corporate greed in the healthcare industry.

Mangione’s manifesto, a three-page document, denounced the prioritization of profit over patient care, labeling industry leaders as “parasites” who “had it coming.” This rhetoric mirrors sentiments expressed by individuals who have suffered under the denials often associated with health insurance claims. Notably, Mangione had no prior criminal record and was considered an intelligent and amiable individual by his friends, which makes his alleged actions all the more perplexing.

“It’s scary that someone so smart and well-liked could perpetrate something so extreme—it makes you wonder how much anger people are hiding,” said junior Eliav Sehati.

In the wake of the incident, health insurers are reassessing security protocols for their executives. In fact, companies like UnitedHealth Group and CVS Health have even removed photos of their leadership from their websites. 

The assassination has elicited a complex public response. While the act of violence is widely condemned, it has also surfaced a wave of resentment toward health insurance companies. Many Americans have taken to social media to share personal stories of denied claims and bureaucratic obstacles, underscoring a pervasive dissatisfaction with the current healthcare system. 

 A significant segment of users praised Mangione as a vigilante hero who has exposed corporate greed within the healthcare industry. The hashtag #FreeLuigi gained substantial traction, with some supporters even portraying him as a “modern-day Robin Hood.” 

Mangione’s social media following has surged dramatically; his X (formerly Twitter) account reportedly escalated from 64 followers to over 320,000 before its suspension. This online idolization extended to various forms of digital content, including memes and fan art, that have romanticized the assassination. 

“It’s shocking to see people defending violence as a way to address healthcare issues—it feels like we’ve lost our sense of justice,” junior Jonah Misaghi said. 

However, Cyabra, an Israel-based disinformation detection platform, found that a significant portion of profiles praising Mangione’s actions were fake, with 18% of the hashtags “#FreeLuigi” and “#FreeLuigiMangione” traced to bot-like or overseas accounts, which worries many social media users.

“The fake accounts praising him are disturbing; they manipulate public opinion and make it harder to have an honest debate,” senior Alex Amir said.

As of January 2025, Luigi Mangione faces multiple charges, including first-degree murder and terrorism-related offenses, in both state and federal courts. He hasn’t yet entered a plea for federal charges but has pled not guilty to all state charges. The legal proceedings have encountered delays to ensure comprehensive preparation for pretrial activities, with the next state court appearance scheduled for Feb. 21, 2025. The federal indictment introduces the possibility of severe penalties, including life imprisonment or the death penalty, contingent upon prosecutorial decisions.

While the assassination of Brian Thompson is an unequivocal tragedy, many argue that the aftermath of praise for Mangione is an even more dangerous reality. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the dark underlay of the healthcare system and corporate profit-driven motives, and even more so of the indignation of many Americans who have been denied insurance claims. As the legal proceedings against Mangione unfold, the nation remains poised for not only the politics of the murder but also a deeper examination of the ethical frameworks that govern healthcare in America.