Luigi Mangione who allegedly killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson and arrested four days after from MacDonalds premises after one of the company’s employees snitched Police. The alleged killer has more supporters than haters in the online world.
Let’s decode why.
On the face of it, the killer needed to go through the trial and face sentence as per the law. But in case of Luigi Mangoine, right from the murder news broke by US mainstream media, a large number of social media users have been supporting the Luigi.
For instance, people are bashing the MacDonald’s employee who informed about the Luigi presence in the Macdonald branch. Also, people are justifying the murder of the insurance company CEO as hundreds of thousands of Americans are victims of the insurance companies denying or delaying the necessary medical assistance in terms of cash or cheque.
Moreover, Luigi’s defence attorney Thomas Dickey said his client will plead not guilty when charges will be pressed against the accused. He told media persons that as per the Constitution of the United States, all accused are considered innocent until proven guilty in eyes of law.
Fundraiser on GiveSendGo has raised over $40,000
A fundraiser on GiveSendGo has raised over $40,000 as of Wednesday to support the legal defense of Luigi Mangione, who was arrested last week for the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
Donations have surged as individuals express frustration with the US healthcare system, blaming insurance companies for denying care and increasing inequality.
The 'December 4th Legal Committee' initiated the fundraiser, which has gained significant attention with many donors calling the act "justifiable homicide." One contributor wrote, "Denying healthcare coverage to people is murder, but no one gets charged with that crime."
Mangione's arrest followed the shooting of Thompson outside a Manhattan hotel on December 4. After five days of evading capture, Mangione was arrested in Pennsylvania on gun and forgery charges. Prosecutors in New York are pursuing his extradition. His lawyer plans to plead not guilty to the charges.
Supporters on the fundraiser page have shared messages like “Deny, Defend, Depose,” a slogan reportedly found on shell casings at the crime scene, which critics believe refers to insurance tactics aimed at avoiding payouts. Mangione merchandise, including items emblazoned with “CEO Hunter” and “FREE LUIGI,” has also gained popularity online.
Some have criticized the public's support of Mangione, with former NYPD detective Felipe Rodriguez calling him a “stone-cold killer.” Meanwhile, Mangione has been hailed as a martyr by others, particularly those disillusioned with corporate greed and the healthcare system.
The case has sparked heated debate, with Mangione’s actions viewed by some as an anti-capitalist protest, while others condemn it as a dangerous precedent. Mangione, an Ivy League graduate, remains a controversial figure in the ongoing discourse surrounding healthcare inequality and corporate accountability.
Book 'Delay, Deny, Defend' becomes Amazon Bestseller
Jay Feinman’s 2010 book Delay, Deny, Defend: Why Insurance Companies Don’t Pay Claims and What You Can Do About It has skyrocketed to the top of Amazon's insurance law category, one week after the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. The book’s title echoes the cryptic words, "deny," "defend," and "depose," carved into bullet casings found at the scene of Thompson’s death in Midtown Manhattan on December 4.
The 26-year-old suspect, Luigi Mangione, was arrested in connection to the murder. Investigators believe the terms on the casings refer to "the three D’s of insurance" — tactics often used by insurance companies to avoid paying claims.
The book, which exposes what it calls insurance injustice, has resonated with readers amid the growing national conversation on healthcare and insurance practices. Feinman’s work outlines numerous stories of Americans who have been "unfairly denied payment" and advocates for consumer protection and reform.
Mangione, who had suffered from chronic back pain and had undergone spine surgery in 2023, is said to have become disillusioned with the healthcare system. Before the killing, Mangione had been reported missing by his mother just two weeks earlier.
Following the murder, a nationwide manhunt ensued, culminating in Mangione’s capture after a McDonald's employee in Altoona, Pennsylvania recognized him from NYPD photos. Upon his arrest, Mangione was found with fraudulent IDs, a ghost gun, a suppressor, and a handwritten manifesto, which authorities say outlines his motivations and mindset.
He faces second-degree murder charges for Thompson’s death, along with forgery and gun charges in Pennsylvania. Mangione contested his extradition to New York during a hearing on Tuesday, where a judge denied him bail.
While many view the incident as a tragic act, some have celebrated it as a statement against the struggles with the U.S. healthcare system, particularly with large insurance companies like UnitedHealthcare, which insures millions of Americans.
Delay, Deny, Defend continues to climb the bestseller lists, sparking renewed conversations about insurance practices and the frustration many Americans feel toward healthcare providers.
