Brian Thompson's killer Luigi Mangione planned to throw monopoly money over his body but forgot

On December 4, 2024, UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was fatally shot, and investigators are analyzing CCTV footage and a bag left behind by the gunman in Central Park to identify the perpetrator.

Police discovered the bag on December 6, 2024. It contained Monopoly money and a jacket, though it has not yet been confirmed whether the jacket matches the one worn by the shooter during the attack. According to a December 9, 2024, report by the Daily Mail, forensic psychiatrist Dr. Carole Lieberman believes the contents of the bag provide insights into the killer's state of mind.

In an interview with The Daily Beast on December 8, 2024, Dr. Lieberman stated:  
"He may have planned to scatter the Monopoly money around the CEO's body after he shot him, but he forgot to take the bills out of his backpack."  

The psychiatrist also suggested that the Monopoly money symbolized the killer's view of UnitedHealthcare as a "ripoff that steals money from patients" to pay hefty salaries to its executives, likening the company to a monopoly. Dr. Lieberman’s theory bolsters the belief that the shooter harbored resentment toward UnitedHealthcare.

As reported by The Daily Beast on December 8, 2024, retired FBI agent Jennifer Coffindaffer highlighted two critical clues connected to Brian Thompson's murder, implying that the killer intended to deliver a message.

Speaking about the shooter and the possible motive, Coffindaffer said: “To me, this seems like somebody far beyond just a personal situation, that he lost a family member or a loved one due to lack of being insured. This seems much larger, like a vigilante, somebody who is well prepared to make a big statement and that he blames UnitedHealthcare in this situation.”  

Coffindaffer also discussed shell casings found at the scene, which were inscribed with the words "deny," "depose," and "defend." While some might interpret "depose" as referring to legal proceedings, she disagreed. Coffindaffer clarified that when the primary dictionary definition of "depose" is considered, "it means to take from office forcefully, and that’s what he did.”  

When asked whether the killer was deliberately taunting law enforcement, Coffindaffer suggested it was a possibility, describing it as indicative of a "truly narcissistic in nature" personality. She further theorized that the shooter might be attempting to present himself as highly intelligent and "smarter-than-police," which could be a significant aspect of his motivation.