Inside Luigi Mangione’s Manifesto: ‘Sorry For The Trauma,’ ‘I am Self-Funded…’

Police arrested Luigi Mangione, 26, in Altoona, Pennsylvania, ending a manhunt sparked by the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. After a McDonald’s employee identified Mangione and informed the police, the arrest took place.

Ivy League graduate Mangione was allegedly carrying a manifesto that targeted corporate America along with a 3D-printed ghost pistol. He had a letter on him that said: “I do apologize for any strife or trauma but it had to be done. These parasites had it coming. I acted alone. I’m self-funded.”

The paper was referred to by law enforcement as a “manifesto.” According to CNN, the message declared violence to be the only viable form of protest and showed contempt for nonviolent action.

On Wednesday, Thompson, 55, was shot and killed outside a Hilton in Midtown Manhattan. When the incident happened, he was at the hotel getting ready to speak to investors. The phrases “deny,” “defend,” and “depose” were inscribed on bullet casings found at the site. These terms are similar to the insurance industry’s “delay, deny, defend” mantra, which is frequently criticized as a means of evading claim payments.

Investigators found Mangione’s abandoned bag in Central Park a few days prior. Bills from the board game Monopoly, which experts believed represented corporate greed, were found inside. Carole Lieberman, a forensic psychiatrist, told reporters that the Monopoly money was probably a criticism of healthcare capitalism.

“Mangione may have intended to scatter the Monopoly money at the crime scene,” Lieberman stated. “It was possibly a symbolic gesture he forgot to execute.”

Mangione’s manifesto was a tirade against corporate tactics, specifically targeting the healthcare sector. Executives were referred to as “parasites” who make money off of rejected claims. The U.S. healthcare system was condemned in the paper for putting money above people’s lives.

Reactions to the murder on social media were mixed. While some denounced the violence, others hailed Mangione as a contemporary Robin Hood. The murderer was presented as a symbol of defiance against monopolistic businesses through memes, merchandise, and viral content.

“Do you expect people to feel bad for someone who denied healthcare to patients?” wrote one social media user on Instagram. Another commenter added, “Nobody condones murder, but if this highlights corporate greed, so be it.”

The killing has intensified scrutiny on corporate executives. Kathryn Wylde, president of the Partnership for New York City, reported threats against other CEOs. “I know of two incidents this weekend involving threatening packages,” Wylde said. One package reportedly contained anthrax; another appeared to be a bomb. Both referenced language similar to Mangione’s manifesto.