The governor of Pennsylvania said on Monday that the murder suspect in UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s killing is “no hero.” Some online commenters have celebrated him for allegedly targeting a health care executive.
In this past week’s incident, Thompson was fatally shot in what officials called a targeted attack in midtown Manhattan, leading police on a nearly week-long manhunt.
Luigi Mangione, 26, was arrested in Altoona, Pennsylvania, on Monday evening, New York City officials announced. Mangione faces murder charges, according to court papers filed by the Manhattan District Attorney’s office.
“In some dark corners, this killer is being hailed as a hero. Hear me on this: He is no hero,” the Democratic governor said, adding that some reports and comments posted on social media show a “lack of sympathy” for the victim and his family.
“In America, we do not kill people in cold blood to resolve policy differences or express a viewpoint. I understand people have real frustration with our health care system, and I have worked to address that throughout my career.”
The governor said he has “no tolerance ... for one man using an illegal ghost gun to murder someone because he thinks his opinion matters most” and that in a “civil society, we are all less safe when ideologues engage in vigilante justice.”
Police and prosecutors have not released a motive for the killing.
“Why would you be in such a celebratory mood about the execution of another human being?” Morgan asked Lorenz, who has been known for trying to reveal the identities behind anonymous social media accounts and for praising COVID-19 mandates.
“Aren’t you supposed to be on the caring, sharing left where, you know, you believe in the sanctity of life?”
Lorenz responded by saying that she does “believe in the sanctity of life” but added, “I felt, along with so many other Americans, joy, unfortunately” after Thompson’s shooting death.
“Joy!? Serious? Joy at a man’s execution?” Morgan then asked.
Lorenz appeared to backtrack by saying: “Maybe not joy, but certainly not empathy.”
On Tuesday, New York City police obtained an arrest warrant for Mangione, who was found to be carrying a gun, mask, and writings linking him to the ambush, according to court papers.
Mangione is being held without bail in Pennsylvania on charges of possession of an unlicensed firearm, forgery, and providing false identification to police. Late Monday, Manhattan prosecutors charged him with five counts, including murder, criminal possession of a weapon, and criminal possession of a forged instrument.
“I'd like to correct two things,” Mangione said, without an attorney present. “First, I don’t know where any of that money came from. I’m not sure if it was planted. And also, that bag was waterproof. So I don’t know about criminal sophistication.”
