Inmates at a Pennsylvania jail holding the alleged CEO assassin have been heard chanting “Free Luigi,” a disturbing show of support for the suspect.
The prisoners interrupted a live TV interview, with their chants echoing through the broadcast from the State Correctional Institution in Huntington, where 26-year-old Luigi Mangione is incarcerated.
Mangione was arrested on Monday after a five-day manhunt for the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
While NewsNation reporter Alex Caprariello was reporting outside the jail on Wednesday, inmates could be heard shouting from within. One yelled, “Luigi’s conditions suck,” while another shouted, “Free Luigi.”
Caprariello later returned to the jail for an interview with Ashleigh Banfield, who asked questions from her newsdesk. When asked if Mangione had a TV in his cell, prisoners screamed “no” and flashed their lights to signal their answers.
Banfield also read the prison menu for the day and inquired about the food. In response, a chorus of inmates yelled that it was “terrible” and “BS.”
“This is the strangest interview I’ve ever conducted,” Banfield admitted.
Authorities have repeatedly rejected claims that Mangione, an Ivy League graduate, is a “hero” after some supporters praised Thompson’s murder.
The situation became divisive when a five-day manhunt led to public outcry, with some people expressing unwillingness to assist in the search. Mangione has since received offers to pay his legal fees.
Recently, ‘wanted’ posters have appeared on New York streets, featuring the names and faces of other health insurance CEOs, stirring fears of copycat attacks. The posters call these executives “wanted for denying medical care for corporate profit,” and contain a chilling message: “When the rich rob the poor it’s called business. When the poor fight back it’s called violence.”
Three bullet casings found at the murder scene on December 4 were engraved with the words “Deny,” “Defend,” and “Depose,” messages that appear on the posters and may be connected to the healthcare industry. These phrases are similar to the title of a 2010 book, Delay, Deny, Defend, written by insurance law expert Jay M. Feinman.
Since Thompson’s death, health insurance executives have reported harassment and threats, with law enforcement officers facing similar treatment after Mangione’s arrest.
Kathryn Wylde, president and CEO of the Partnership for New York City, stated that it is a “dangerous” time for industry executives, explaining that no CEO wants to be at the center of such controversy.
But it’s not just posters that Mangione’s supporters have been distributing.
Who is Luigi Mangione?
This Article Includes
Mangione, 26, was seen as a beloved and intelligent man by those who knew him. Raised in Maryland, he was valedictorian at Gilman School in Baltimore and had no criminal history. He was described as a model student, athlete, and popular figure.
A former classmate recalled that Mangione was “popular” with a “big circle of friends,” adding, “I’m really shocked by this whole thing.” Mangione was also known for his soccer skills at the all-boys school, where being a good athlete was an asset.
After graduating cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania, Mangione went on to earn his master’s degree there. He worked as a data engineer in California before relocating to Hawaii. His cousin, Nino Mangione, is a Republican member of the Maryland House of Delegates.
Some websites are now selling merchandise celebrating the assassination of Thompson, including hats with “CEO Hunter” and a bullseye graphic. Since his arrest, a fundraising campaign for Mangione’s legal defense has raised thousands, with some viewing him as a folk hero. A person even had a tattoo made based on the security camera image of the attack, while some social media users have commented on Mangione’s appearance.
Supporters on the GiveSendGo fundraiser have claimed the killing was a “justifiable homicide,” with one person stating, “Denying healthcare coverage to people is murder, but no one gets charged with that crime.”
Former NYPD detective sergeant Felipe Rodriguez criticized the glorification of Mangione and the heinous act, calling him “a stone-cold killer.”
NYPD Deputy Commissioner Rebecca Weiner warned that the murder could trigger a “contagion,” with the suspect’s supporters lionizing him as a hero. She pointed to the online vitriol surrounding the case as evidence of this dangerous trend.
Lawyer Speaks Out
Mangione, now held in Pennsylvania, faces extradition to New York, where prosecutors hope to charge him. He has been denied bail, and his lawyer, Tom Dickey, has vowed to plead not guilty to all charges, claiming to have seen “zero evidence” linking Mangione to the shooting.
The suspect was arrested after being recognized by a McDonald’s customer in Altoona, Pennsylvania, who Governor Josh Shapiro praised as a “hero.” During a search, officers discovered a fake ID, a “ghost gun” resembling the one seen in surveillance footage of the killing, a secret notebook, and a manifesto critical of the healthcare industry.
Investigators also found fingerprints matching Mangione’s on a water bottle discarded near the crime scene. His online activity leading up to the shooting revealed rants about chronic medical issues, including irritable bowel syndrome, insomnia, and back pain, suggesting a motive linked to his struggles with the healthcare system.
As investigators continue to scrutinize Mangione’s past, the shocking murder remains a focal point in the ongoing debate over healthcare and its impact on individuals.