Ghost Gun and Fake ID of Luigi Mangione in the UnitedHealthcare CEO Murder

Who is Luigi Mangione - Suspect Killer in Shooting of United Healthcare CEO The individual implicated in the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson has been identified as 26-year-old Luigi Mangione, a former valedictorian from the Gilman ...

The Fake Identity and Hostel Check-In

According to law enforcement officials, Luigi Mangione used a fake driver’s license under the name “Mark Rosario” with an address listed on Sherman Place and a date of birth of July 21, 1998. The document was reportedly used to check into a hostel on the Upper West Side just days before the shooting occurred.

NBC News obtained a photo of the fraudulent ID, later confirmed by the NYPD as authentic. Additional fake IDs were recovered during Mangione’s arrest, raising questions about how long he had been using aliases to conceal his identity.

Photo Of Luigi Mangione's Fake ID

The Ghost Gun: A Homemade Weapon

A photograph of Mangione’s firearm, described as a "ghost gun," has also surfaced online. Ghost guns are unregistered weapons that can be assembled at home from kits or parts, often without serial numbers, making them nearly impossible to trace. Law enforcement officials believe Mangione’s ghost gun was made with the aid of a 3D printer and was capable of firing 9mm rounds—the same type of ammunition used in Thompson’s murder.

NYPD detectives revealed that the weapon was recovered along with other incriminating items, including clothing and a mask resembling those seen on surveillance footage of the suspect near the crime scene.

“As of right now, the information we’re getting from Altoona is that the gun appears to be a ghost gun made on a 3D printer,” a detective involved in the case said. This revelation highlights the growing concern among law enforcement agencies regarding the proliferation of untraceable firearms.

Old footage of Luigi Mangione giving his valedictorian speech at Gilman School in 2016:

What are 'Ghost Guns and Why Are They So Dangerous?

The Midtown Manhattan Shooting

Brian Thompson, 50, was gunned down in a brazen attack on December 4, 2024, outside the New York Hilton Midtown hotel along Sixth Avenue. The suspect, believed to be Mangione, used a silenced weapon to fire multiple shots at Thompson, striking him in the back and right calf before fleeing on foot.

Surveillance footage from a nearby Starbucks showed a hooded man matching Mangione’s description standing at the counter shortly before the attack. Witnesses later reported seeing a man fitting the same description lying in wait outside the Hilton.

The NYPD confirmed that shell casings and live rounds recovered at the scene bore cryptic messages such as “deny,” “depose,” and “defend,” potentially hinting at the shooter’s motives.

Luigi Mangione

A "Targeted" Attack

NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch has identified Mangione as the key person of interest in what she described as a “brazen, targeted murder.”

“Officers also recovered clothing, including a mask consistent with those worn by our wanted individual. Also recovered was a fraudulent New Jersey ID matching the ID our suspect used to check into his New York City hostel before the shooting incident," Tisch said during a press briefing.

The shooting occurred as Thompson was on his way to attend an investors’ conference at the Hilton. He was pronounced dead at Mount Sinai West Hospital shortly after the attack.

The Arrest in Altoona

Mangione was apprehended on December 9, 2024, at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, after an employee recognized him from wanted posters. Police recovered the ghost gun, multiple fake IDs, and a manifesto from Mangione during the arrest.

The manifesto, a three-page document, criticized healthcare corporations for prioritizing profits over patient care. It is now a focal point of the investigation, with authorities working to determine whether Mangione’s grievances with the industry served as a motive for the attack.

A Promising Career Marred by Radicalization

Luigi Mangione Profile

Mangione’s background presents a stark contrast to his alleged actions. A valedictorian of his 2016 graduating class at the prestigious Gilman School in Baltimore, Mangione went on to study at the University of Pennsylvania, earning both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Computer and Information Science. He later worked as a data engineer for a California-based car company.

However, Mangione’s online activity revealed a darker side. Social media accounts attributed to him showed support for anti-capitalist and climate-change causes, as well as admiration for quotes from Ted Kaczynski, the “Unabomber,” targeting the healthcare industry.

The Ongoing Investigation

Mangione remains in custody in Pennsylvania as authorities prepare to extradite him to New York to face potential murder charges. Investigators continue to analyze the evidence, including the manifesto, weapon, and surveillance footage, to piece together Mangione’s motives and determine whether others were involved.

The case has drawn attention to the ease of obtaining and using ghost guns, as well as the potential for online radicalization to fuel violent actions. With the investigation still underway, law enforcement officials are working diligently to ensure justice is served.

Conclusion

The murder of Brian Thompson has exposed vulnerabilities in corporate security and highlighted the dangers of untraceable firearms and ideological extremism. As more details emerge, the focus remains on bringing closure to Thompson’s family and holding the perpetrator accountable for this calculated and tragic act.

Who is Brian Thompson (CEO of UnitedHealthcare): Bio, Family, Career, and Net Worth

Brian Thompson Shooting: 2 New Images of the Alleged Killer