Every reader of this editorial knows about what appears to be the premeditated execution of Brian Thompson, the chief executive officer of United Healthcare outside the New York Hilton Hotel in New York City on Dec. 4, 2024. Everyone was undoubtedly amazed and overwhelmed by the technology and ability to view thousands of videos and photos taken in the city resulting in a description and identification of a suspect when he took off his hood and mask at a hostel in the upper west side, and continuing to track the suspect to a bus station at the George Washington Bridge. The suspect, Luigi Mangione, was captured on Dec. 9 when an employee of a McDonald’s Restaurant in Altoona, Pa. called police after being told by a customer that the suspect was on the premises.

At the time of his arrest, Mr. Mangione was found with a gun and suppressor that matched objects found at the scene of the crime and a fake driver’s license used by the suspect at the hostel. He was also found in possession of a “manifesto“ which indicated his belief that the killing was a direct challenge to the healthcare industry’s “corruption.“ The document read “frankly these parasites simply had it coming.“
Mr. Mangione has now been charged with various crimes, including murder by the state district attorney in Manhattan and, because of the interstate travel aspects, by the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York. He also is charged with offenses, including carrying a gun without a license, false identification and possession of instruments of the crime in Pennsylvania.