Luigi Mangione, the suspected assassin of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO, has garnered a devoted fan base. Not only have his supporters contributed significant funds to his legal defense, but they also argue that his prosecution for a murder captured on camera is part of a “corporate-driven narrative.” They claim the case against him is like nothing seen before, criticizing the mainstream media for unquestioningly endorsing this viewpoint.
The incident took place on December 4, 2024, when an unidentified individual, masked and armed, crept up on UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson and shot him. Surveillance footage vividly captures the chilling moment of the attack, showing a female bystander fleeing in terror as the perpetrator casually strolls away before wandering through Central Park.
Authorities have pointed fingers at Mangione as the perpetrator seen in the video. Allegedly, he fled the scene and remained undercover until members of the public at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, identified him from a wanted poster and alerted the authorities five days after the tragic event.
Luigi Mangione shouts while officers restrain him as he arrives for his extradition hearing at the Blair County Courthouse in Hollidaysburg, Pa., on Dec. 10, 2024. (David Dee Delgado for Fox News Digital)
Even legal experts who do not number among his defenders have criticized the massive police presence at his perp walk, when he arrived in New York City via helicopter and was met by the mayor, the NYPD commissioner and dozens of officers in tactical gear.
“The prep walk was just out of control,” said Joseph Giacalone, a retired NYPD sergeant and criminal justice professor at Penn State-Lehigh Valley. “This isn’t like you’re walking the guy out of the precinct and you got to get him into a car. This was such a staged event.”
Typically, photographers line up outside a police building and hope to get a picture of a suspect as he is escorted by a couple of detectives to or from a police vehicle for a booking or court appearance. In Mangione’s case, police set up a massive reception.
Police escort Luigi Mangioni after his arrival in New York City by helicopter on Dec. 19, 2024. (Rashid Umar Abbasi for Fox News Digital)
The optics likely won’t affect the case, Giacalone said, but some of the theatrics would have been better suited for the arrest of the Son of Sam serial killer, David Berkowitz.
“They made a production out of it,” Giacalone said, adding that having the tactical team present was actually a reasonable move due to Mangione’s widespread support.
Mangione comes from a wealthy family, attended a private high school and has an Ivy League bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania. He has a top-tier private attorney.
Supporters say they have raised nearly $300,000 for his legal defense.
