Richard Arnold: US Correspondent on the possible motive, naming of Luigi Mangione suspected of killing Brian Thompson

A possible motive has been revealed for the man who allegedly gunned down a major health insurance CEO.

New York prosecutors have charged 26-year-old Luigi Mangione with murdering Brian Thompson last week.

He was arrested in a Pennsylvania McDonald's yesterday, reportedly carrying a firearm and a hand-written document.

US Correspondent Richard Arnold told Heather du Plessis-Allal it was critical of the healthcare industry.

He says Mangione wrote about how these "parasites had it coming" and apologised for any trauma, but said it had to be done.

Arnold says it was a virtual confession, with the accused saying the note would only be read if he was killed or captured.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Stateside, we've got Richard Arnold.

Speaker 2 (00:01):
Hey, Richard, So does it sound to you like this
chap who's responsible allegedly for the shooting is basically been
prompted by his own pain.

Speaker 3 (00:11):
Well, that may be part of it. We still don't
know the full details, but certainly he had some health
issues that he was dealing with. But I mean, there
are so many bizarre elements to this. He's going to
face an extradition hearing shortly this fellow, and many still
are just amazed at how it all unfolded. This suspect,
Luigi Manngione, had all kinds of incriminating evidence with him
when he was spotted in a McDonald's fast food place

(00:33):
in Pennsylvania, a few hours is away only from the
site of the murder in New York. He hit with
him the so called ghost gun, the unidentified weapon possibly
made with a three D printer, and it was loaded,
so was he planning something. Additionally, he was also carrying
a fake ID in the name of Mark Rozario, a
fake name that was used in New York. Also, he

(00:53):
had with him as well as a three paid manifesto
critical of the healthcare industry. So in it he wrote
quote these science had it coming. End quote. He added,
I do apologize for any strife and trauma, but it
had to be done. He also writes a virtual confession,
suggesting his note would only be read if he was
killed or captured. It says, in part quote to save
you are lengthy investigation, I state plainly that I wasn't

(01:16):
working with anyone. So all this is in sharp contrast
to the shooter's initial actions that we've been hearing about,
where he was so careful and wearing a mask in
New York, except for that brief now or infamous moment
where he was seen flirting with the girl at the
desk of the hostel where he was staying. Then there
was the monopoly money that he left in the backpack
the police found in Central Park. But then these lapses.

(01:38):
At the Altima McDonalds in Pennsylvania, he still had a
mask and another pack, and a customer named Larry says
he and his mate's joke that he looked like the
New York assassin. He says one of his groups spoke
up about it.

Speaker 4 (01:49):
He made a calm man, well, that looks like the
shooter from New York, But I thought he was the
group of us. I thought it was more of a
joke and we were kidding about it, but then as
it turned out, it was him.

Speaker 3 (02:05):
No joke, Yeah, he suspected shooter. Then ordered some hash
brown potatoes and sat at the back of the place.
Then one of the staffers put in that call to
police emergency that staff and one of Larry's mates were
expected to share the tip off reward money, talking about
sixty thousand dollars US in all, So that's one hundred
thousand plus New Zealand. So we'll see how that works out. Meantime,
we're hearing more and more about this man who was

(02:26):
facing the murder charge after being initially being charged with
unlicensed fire, unpossession, forgery and so on. Police ran his
ID found it to be fake. Mangioni said little to
police when he was arrested, but in court for the
initial arrangement, he quiverled with the police account that his
backpack was designed to prevent mobile phone signals being traced.

(02:47):
So police were arguing that this was a sophisticated criminal effort,
and Mangioni piped up and said, hey, it was just
a backpack. As for what else we know he had
a shoulder problem had undergone a surgery, so that house
back to your initial thought there. He also moved to
Hawaii for about eighteen months, where his family, a wealthy family,
was unable to trace him for time, and where one
of his roommates in what was built as the first

(03:08):
coworking penthouse for remote workers. This is a place on
the fortieth story of a high rise in Hawaii, says
he is stunned by what has happened.

Speaker 5 (03:17):
Beyond shock. It's unimaginable. You know, I was roommates with him, friends,
heiked Montioga. He's you know, did his best to be
athletic and unfathomable.

Speaker 3 (03:28):
Well, something like that. That friend, says MANGIONI was sociable
and pretty outgoing.

Speaker 5 (03:33):
When he first came, he went on a surf lesson
with other members and unfortunately just a basic surf lesson.
He was in bed for about a week. We had
to get a different bed firm that was more firm,
and I know it was really traumatic and difficult. You know,
when you're in the early twenties and you can't you know,
do some basic things, it can be really really difficult.

Speaker 3 (03:52):
Well, the victim's family say they devastated. Mangioni's family say
also they're shocked and devastated by all of this. What
is unusual, though, has been some of the public reaction.
We're hearing many complaints about troubles with the health insurance
industry that are coming up right now, and especially United Healthcare,
the place run by the murder victim. That's led police
and others to praise police actions and those of the

(04:12):
civilians who provided the tip off. They say, Luigi Mangioni
is not a hero, something I cannot recall hearing about
any other murder suspect in the past.

Speaker 1 (04:22):
Amazing, Richard, Thank you so much. Appreciated. Richard Arnold UIs correspondent.

Speaker 2 (04:25):
Couldn't help yesterday, but I was when it became clear
who the guy was, and you know, good looking, young guy,
ivy league, wealthy family. Couldn't help but think, jeez, it
must be tough for the parents. Imagine so proud of
him at one stage and so devastated.

Speaker 5 (04:39):
Now.

Speaker 3 (04:40):
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