Luigi Mangione’s notebook reveals Manhattan bombing plan before UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting

Luigi Mangione’s spiral notebook detailed a potential Manhattan bombing, later dismissed

Luigi Mangione, a 26-year-old former Ivy League student, faces charges of second-degree murder in the shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Mangione was arrested at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, carrying a 3D-printed pistol, a silencer, and a manifesto detailing his frustrations with the U.S. healthcare system. His writings reveal a deep-seated anger at corporate profiteering in healthcare, which he described as an "act of war" against the public.

Investigators found a spiral notebook with a "to-do list" outlining plans for the attack. Mangione reportedly considered using a bomb but ultimately rejected the idea, fearing collateral damage to innocent bystanders. Instead, he decided on a targeted shooting, allegedly stating it couldn’t get “better than to kill the CEO at his own bean-counting conference.”

Mangione’s manifesto provides chilling insights into his mindset. In it, he condemns healthcare corporations for prioritizing profits over patient care and blames UnitedHealthcare for his mother’s untreated neuropathy due to high costs and policy limitations. Referencing his personal struggles with chronic pain, he wrote, “This threat to my own health, my family's health, and this country’s people requires me to respond with an act of war.” He also praised the ideology of Unabomber Ted Kaczynski, calling his predictions about modern society “prescient.”

The courtroom drama further highlighted Mangione’s volatile emotions. Appearing in an orange jumpsuit, he shouted at officers, labeling the proceedings as “unjust” and “an insult to the American people.” Despite the outburst, his lawyer, Tom Dickey, maintains there is no evidence linking him to the shooting and emphasized the principle of presumed innocence.

This tragic case underscores systemic issues in U.S. healthcare. With Americans spending significantly more on healthcare than citizens in other developed nations, the system remains under scrutiny. While Mangione’s actions are unequivocally condemned, they serve as a grim reminder of the frustrations millions face within an inequitable healthcare framework.