‘Strong person of interest’ in UnitedHealthcare CEO killing identified and arrested, police say

A “strong person of interest” was arrested in Pennsylvania on Monday in connection to the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, officials said.

The 26-year-old man in Altoona was identified as Luigi Mangione and arrested on weapons charges, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch told reporters. He was found with a gun similar to the one used in the shooting of Thompson and had a fake ID with the same name the suspect used at a New York City hostel, police said.

“Additionally, officers recovered a handwritten document that speaks to both his motivation and mindset,” Tisch said.

The person being questioned was at a McDonald’s in Altoona, where an employee thought he looked suspicious and called police, police said.

“We believe we have a strong person of interest,” New York Mayor Eric Adams said.

The document speaking to his motivation came in the form of three handwritten pages, evidence that’s now in possession of Altoona police, New York City officials said.

“It does seem that he has some some ill will toward corporate America,” Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said.

The man in custody also had a weapon that might been homemade and thus off the charts of any law enforcement or government agency.

“The information we’re getting from Altoona is that the gun appears to be a ghost gun and may have been made on a 3D printer,” Kenny said.

“He was in possession of a ghost gun that had the capability of firing 9 mm round and a suppressor.”

Police said the public’s help played a key role in finding the suspect.

“There’s numerous linch pins in this case,” Kenney said. “We’ve recovered an enormous amount of forensic evidence, an enormous amount of video, and once again, with your help, the public’s help.”

Police found clothes matching the suspect’s and a fake ID used at a New York City hostel, Commissioner Tisch said.

The name on that fake ID was Marc Rosario, matching the name used by Thompson’s alleged killer to check into a New York hostel days before the attack, multiple law enforcement sources told NBC News.

Thompson was gunned down in front of the New York Hilton Midtown, about 280 miles from Altoona, by a masked assailant who approached from behind.

The killer opened fire at around 6:45 a.m., surveillance footage showed, before fleeing on foot and then on a bike into Central Park, authorities said. The last footage of the alleged gunman put him at bus depot in Upper Manhattan, police said.

Investigators are looking into whether the man being questioned in Altoona arrived there by bus from Philadelphia, about 240 miles away, law enforcement sources said.

The FBI has posted a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the gunman — in addition to the combined $10,000 already offered by Crime Stoppers and the NYPD.

Thompson’s slaying sent shock waves throughout the corporate and health care worlds, raising questions about appropriate security for top level executives.

The shooting also exposed a deep, ugly resentment against private health care companies as social media feeds were flooded with posts celebrating — or at least justifying — Thompson’s slaying.