Suspected UnitedHealthcare CEO murderer Luigi Mangione has a cult following that has not solely donated tons of of 1000’s to his protection, his supporters are additionally saying his prosecution for a homicide caught on digicam is a part of a “corporate-backed narrative” and that the case in opposition to him is “unprecedented.” This comes as mainstream media is ripped for getting into the hype.
On Dec. 4, 2024, a masked assailant approached UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson from behind and opened fireplace.
Surveillance video exhibits the cold-blooded assault and a feminine bystander working in worry because the killer nonchalantly walks off earlier than taking a meandering path uptown by means of Central Park.
Police have accused Mangione of being the person within the video. They are saying he made his method out of city and laid low till folks at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, acknowledged him from a wished poster and referred to as police 5 days after the slaying.
He was arrested whereas consuming breakfast on the quick meals joint, probably the most iconic company chains on the earth.
However on-line supporters proceed to reward him as “a determine of humanitarianism” and “anti-capitalism.”
“Don’t give in into this company backed narrative,” reads a publish on a Reddit discussion board, r/FreeLuigi, wherein the writer criticizes a brand new ID documentary, “Who’s Luigi Mangione?”
It acquired tons of of upvotes and some dozen feedback, some urging supporters to donate to his protection and ignore reporting on the case.
Mangione faces a slew of expenses on the state and federal degree, probably the most severe of which might carry the demise penalty.
Mangione is accused of “meticulously” planning the homicide with the motive of igniting a “public dialogue concerning the healthcare trade,” in response to the Justice Division.
Federal prosecutors allege he stalked the sufferer, arrived in New York Metropolis per week upfront and scouted his environment.
Police allegedly discovered his DNA and fingerprints close to the crime scene and say he had a gun linked to the homicide in his backpack when he was arrested days later.
The NYPD launched a nonetheless picture from surveillance video, displaying him pulling his coronavirus masks down and smiling whereas flirting with a clerk on the check-in of the Manhattan hostel the place police say he stayed for the homicide.
It went viral and instantly attracted a wave of help on-line for the accused killer.
Different r/FreeLuigi posts have described the accused murderer as a humanitarian and a “constructive inspiration.” The subreddit’s description calls it a discussion board to “focus on healthcare reform and associated matters” together with Mangione’s felony case.
When officers approached, they instantly acknowledged him though he was carrying a medical masks, in response to court docket paperwork.
Nonetheless, he allegedly handed over a faux ID and gave a phony title. In his bag, police allegedly recovered the suspected homicide weapon, a 3D-printed suppressor and the identical faux ID used to examine into the New York hostel.
Police discovered shell casings on the scene with sinister messages written on them, “depose,” “deny” and “defend,” in response to authorities.
The phrases are much like the title of a ebook important of the insurance coverage trade wherein the sufferer was a key determine, “Delay, Deny, Defend: Why Insurance coverage Corporations Don’t Pay Claims and What You Can Do About It.”
The alleged assassination occurred proper exterior a resort the place Thompson, a married father of two from Minnesota, was alleged to attend a Wall Avenue shareholder convention later within the morning.
However Mangione’s supporters say the prosection is each “unprecedented” and an indication of presidency overreach.
Even authorized consultants who don’t quantity amongst his defenders have criticized the huge police presence at his perp stroll, when he arrived in New York Metropolis through helicopter and was met by the mayor, the NYPD commissioner and dozens of officers in tactical gear.
“The prep stroll was simply uncontrolled,” mentioned Joseph Giacalone, a retired NYPD sergeant and felony justice professor at Penn State-Lehigh Valley. “This isn’t such as you’re strolling the man out of the precinct and you bought to get him right into a automobile. This was such a staged occasion.”
Sometimes, photographers line up exterior a police constructing and hope to get an image of a suspect as he’s escorted by a few detectives to or from a police car for a reserving or court docket look. In Mangione’s case, police arrange an enormous reception.
The optics seemingly received’t have an effect on the case, Giacalone mentioned, however among the theatrics would have been higher suited to the arrest of the Son of Sam serial killer, David Berkowitz.
“They made a manufacturing out of it,” Giacalone mentioned, including that having the tactical workforce current was really an affordable transfer as a result of Mangione’s widespread help.
Mangione comes from a rich household, attended a non-public highschool and has an Ivy League bachelor’s diploma from the College of Pennsylvania. He has a top-tier non-public lawyer.
Supporters say they’ve raised almost $300,000 for his authorized protection.
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