New details have emerged in the case of accused killer Luigi Mangione, with claims that the 26-year-old visited an expensive shooting range in Thailand just months before gunning down UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City.
According to two German tourists, Paul and Max, who travelled with Mangione during his solo trip across Asia, he chose to skip a day at the beach to visit the gun range. The New York Post reports that the pair revealed this in a documentary titled “Luigi Mangione: The Mind of a Killer”, airing on TMZ.
Mangione, who had left the US early last year, was described by the German tourists as being deeply interested in the book “Hit Reverse: New Ideas From Old Books” by Indian author Jash Dholani. The book, which delves into philosophical perspectives, appeared to captivate Mangione. The travellers claimed that Mangione even bought 400 copies of the book and flew to Mumbai to meet the author.
On December 4, he allegedly carried out a targeted shooting outside a luxury Midtown hotel, killing Thompson in what police have described as a “targeted attack.”
Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealthcare, had been receiving threats prior to his murder. His wife, Paulette, revealed that her husband had been warned of potential danger before the tragic incident.
The event led to a nationwide manhunt, culminating in Mangione’s arrest in Pennsylvania after five days on the run. He was charged with multiple counts related to the killing, though he pleaded not guilty to the charges at his arraignment.
Protests erupted in New York City in response to the case, with demonstrators holding signs reading “Deny, defend, depose,” a phrase supposedly engraved on the bullets used to kill Thompson.
Mangione, an Ivy League graduate and tech expert, had criticised the healthcare industry in a manifesto before the murder. Following the shooting, some online users showed support for him, even starting a crowdfunding campaign to help with his legal defence, raising thousands of dollars.