UHC CEO Brian Thompson Fatally Shot

Prosecutors allege Luigi Mangione, 27, ambushed and fatally shot UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Manhattan on Dec. 4, 2024; Mangione has pleaded not guilty and is being held without bail pending state and federal trials. Federal authorities are seeking the death penalty, and his lawyers have filed motions seeking to dismiss the indictment or to remove capital punishment while accusing political actors of using the case for agendas. Mangione backpacked across Asia in early 2024, befriended Americans including Christian Sacchini, and shared messages and photos describing altercations in Bangkok; reporters say he became increasingly isolated in Japan and India and grew fixated on the U.S. health-insurance system. Reporting notes there is no public evidence that Mangione had a personal insurance dispute with UnitedHealthcare.