Luigi Mangione, suspect charged in UnitedHealthcare CEO murder was Gilman School valedictorian
BALTIMORE -- A man charged in the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City is from Baltimore County, Maryland, and was the valedictorian at the Gilman School in 2016, WJZ has learned.
Luigi Mangione, 26, was arrested at a McDonald's Monday afternoon in Altoona, Pennsylvania, on firearm charges after he was recognized by an employee, police said. He was charged on Monday night in Thompson's murder.
At a press conference, New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said Mangione was found in possession of a firearm and suppressor that appeared to match those used in the shooting. He also had multiple fraudulent IDs, including the one used to check into a New York City hostel, and was in possession of clothing and a face mask that appeared to match those seen on the suspected gunman.
Mangione was a 2016 graduate and valedictorian speaker at the Gilman School in Baltimore. A video of the 119th Gilman School Founder's Day Ceremony shows Mangione's speech.
"We recently became aware that the person arrested in connection with the killing of the UnitedHealthcare CEO is a Gilman alumnus, Luigi Mangione, Class of 2016," Henry P.A. Smyth, Gilman's head of school, said in a statement. "We do not have any information other than what is being reported in the news."
On Tuesday, Gilman issued a second statement, saying "Luigi Mangione's suspected involvement in this case is deeply distressing news on top of an already awful situation. Our hearts go out to everyone affected. Here on campus, our focus will remain on caring for and educating our students."
Thompson was shot and killed on December 4 outside the Hilton Midtown Hotel in Manhattan while in town for an investor's conference.
Two days into the manhunt, investigators said they believed the person of interest may have fled New York City.
Investigators searched Central Park, where they found what they believed to be the suspect gunman's backpack, CBS News reported.
After a tip, the suspect, identified as Mangione, was taken into custody in Pennsylvania.