Active Investigation
2020s
New York City, New York
Homicide
Official

The Murder of Brian Thompson

UnitedHealthcare CEO assassinated outside NYC investor conference

77 evidence items3 investigatorsHomicide3 boards created

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Case Dossier

Case Brief

On December 4, 2024, Brian Robert Thompson, the 50-year-old CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was shot and killed in a targeted attack outside the New York Hilton Midtown hotel in Manhattan. Thompson was walking toward the hotel, where UnitedHealth Group's annual investor conference was about to begin, when a masked gunman approached from behind and fired multiple shots from a suppressed 9mm pistol, striking him in the back and right calf. Thompson was rushed to Mount Sinai West hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The shooting triggered a massive five-day manhunt. Surveillance footage captured the gunman's movements before and after the killing, including stops at a nearby Starbucks and his escape route through Central Park. Police recovered shell casings at the scene inscribed with the words "deny," "delay," and "depose" — terms associated with insurance industry claim denial tactics, referencing the book "Delay, Deny, Defend" about insurance company practices.

On December 9, 2024, 26-year-old Luigi Nicholas Mangione was arrested at a McDonald's in Altoona, Pennsylvania, after a customer recognized him from widely circulated photos. Police found a 3D-printed ghost gun matching the murder weapon, a homemade suppressor, a fake New Jersey ID, and a handwritten notebook expressing hostility toward the healthcare industry. Mangione, an Ivy League-educated engineer from a wealthy Maryland family, had arrived in New York City on November 24 by bus, checked into a hostel under a fake name, and conducted reconnaissance of the Hilton for days before the shooting.

Mangione was indicted on eleven state charges including first-degree murder and murder in furtherance of terrorism, as well as four federal charges including stalking and murder through use of a firearm. The terrorism and death-penalty-eligible federal murder charges were later dismissed. His state trial is set for June 8, 2026, with the federal trial scheduled for October 13, 2026. Mangione is held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.

Evidence Archive

7

Documents

26

People

18

Locations

15

Timeline Events

5

Images

4

Notes

Key Figures

Key Locations

Metropolitan Detention Center Brooklyn

80 29th Street, Brooklyn, NY

HI New York City Hostel

891 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY

New York Marriott Marquis (Thompson's Hotel)

151 W 54th Street, New York, NY

University of Pennsylvania

6202 Wissahickon Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19144, United States, Philadelphia, PA

Turf Valley Resort

2700 Turf Valley Road, Ellicott City, MD

Central Park (Backpack Recovery Site)

Central Park, near the Carousel, New York, NY

Surfbreak Co-Living - Honolulu, HI

498 Ala Moana Park Drive, Honolulu, Hawaii 96815, United States, Honolulu, HI

George Washington Bridge Bus Station

4211 Broadway, New York, NY

Penn Station (New York)

8th Ave & 31st Street, New York, NY

Starbucks at 1290 Sixth Avenue

1290 6th Avenue, New York, NY

Timeline Highlights

Nov 18, 2024

Nov 18: Kathleen Mangione Files Missing Person Report

Missing person report filed by Kathleen Mangione (mother) with SFPD. Last contact: July 2024. Believed to be in San Francisco. SFPD later tipped FBI to possible match with shooting suspect.

Nov 24, 2024

Nov 24: Mangione Arrives in NYC

10:11 p.m. - Arrived Port Authority Bus Terminal on bus from Atlanta. Took taxi to Hilton area for approximately 30 minutes of reconnaissance. Took second taxi to HI NYC Hostel at 891 Amsterdam Ave. Checked in at ~11:20 p.m. as 'Mark Rosario' using fake NJ license.

Dec 4, 2024

Dec 4, 5:34 AM: Mangione Departs Hostel

5:34 a.m. - Left HI NYC Hostel on e-bike via Central Park West toward Midtown. Dark jacket, gray backpack.

Dec 4, 2024

Dec 4, 5:41 AM: Mangione Arrives at Hilton Area

5:41 a.m. - Arrived at Hilton Midtown vicinity. Began walking around and monitoring hotel entrances.

Dec 4, 2024

Dec 4, 6:15 AM: Starbucks Purchase

6:15-6:17 a.m. - Purchased water bottle and two energy bars at Starbucks, 1290 6th Avenue. Surveillance footage captured.

Dec 4, 2024

Dec 4, 6:44 AM: Brian Thompson Shot

6:44 a.m. - Brian Thompson shot outside New York Hilton Midtown on 6th Avenue. Struck in back and right calf by three shots from suppressed 9mm pistol. Transported to Mount Sinai West. Pronounced dead at hospital.

Dec 4, 2024

Dec 4, 6:48-7:30 AM: Escape Through Central Park

6:48 a.m. - Entered Central Park at 60th St. 6:56 a.m. - Exited on Central Park West with bike. 7:00 a.m. - At 86th St, no bike. 7:04 a.m. - Taxi at 86th & Amsterdam. 7:30 a.m. - GW Bridge Bus Station. Then subway to Penn Station, train to Philadelphia.

Dec 4, 2024

Dec 4-9: Mangione Traverses Pennsylvania

Dec 4-9: Traveled by train from NYC to Philadelphia. Moved through PA from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh to Altoona. Actively avoided surveillance. Took Greyhound bus through Altoona. Arrested Dec 9 at McDonald's.

Dec 9, 2024

Dec 9: Arrest at McDonald's, Altoona PA

9:14 a.m. - 911 call from McDonald's employee. Officers arrive, find suspect in rear of restaurant. Mask removed, immediately recognized. Fake ID presented, then true identity admitted. Backpack search reveals: gun, suppressor, ammo, fake ID, manifesto, $7,750 cash. Arrested and booked.

Dec 17, 2024

Dec 17: Manhattan DA Announces 11-Count State Indictment

11-count state indictment: 3 murder counts (terrorism and intent), 7 gun charges, 1 fake ID charge. Max sentence: life without parole. Prosecuted by ADAs Seidemann, Bailey, Kaplan.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened in the Murder of Brian Thompson case?
On December 4, 2024, Brian Robert Thompson, the 50-year-old CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was shot and killed in a targeted attack outside the New York Hilton Midtown hotel in Manhattan. Thompson was walking toward the hotel, where UnitedHealth Group's annual investor conference was about to begin, when a masked gunman approached from behind and fired multiple shots from a suppressed 9mm pistol, striking him in the back and right calf. Thompson was rushed to Mount Sinai West hospital, where he was pr Read the full case brief and review 77 pieces of evidence on Coldcase Bureau.
Is the Murder of Brian Thompson case solved?
No, the Murder of Brian Thompson case remains unsolved as of 2026. 3 citizen investigators are actively reviewing 77 pieces of evidence on Coldcase Bureau, including 7 documents and 26 identified persons of interest.
Who are the key people in the Murder of Brian Thompson case?
Key figures in the Murder of Brian Thompson investigation include Luigi Nicholas Mangione, Brian Robert Thompson, Nicholas Mangione Sr., Louis Mangione, Alvin Bragg. The full case archive identifies 26 people connected to the case, with documented relationships, evidence links, and connection maps between individuals.
Where did the Murder of Brian Thompson case take place?
The Murder of Brian Thompson case is primarily associated with New York City, New York. Key locations include Metropolitan Detention Center Brooklyn, HI New York City Hostel, New York Marriott Marquis (Thompson's Hotel). The evidence archive documents 18 locations connected to the case.
When did the Murder of Brian Thompson case happen?
The Murder of Brian Thompson case dates to the 2020s. The investigation timeline documents 15 key events in chronological order, from the initial incident through the ongoing investigation.
What evidence exists in the Murder of Brian Thompson case?
The Murder of Brian Thompson evidence archive contains 77 pieces of evidence including 7 documents (court filings, police reports, FOIA responses), 26 identified persons, 0 organizations, and 18 mapped locations. All evidence is sourced from publicly available records and organized on interactive investigation boards.
What are the main theories in the Murder of Brian Thompson case?
The Murder of Brian Thompson investigation features multiple competing theories developed by 3 citizen investigators on Coldcase Bureau. Each theory is supported by evidence from the 77-item archive, with investigators creating focused investigation boards to map connections and test hypotheses. Join the investigation to review existing theories or propose your own.
Why hasn't the Murder of Brian Thompson case been solved?
The Murder of Brian Thompson remains one of over 250,000 unsolved cases in the United States. Factors may include limited forensic technology at the time, witness reliability issues, or investigative dead ends. Coldcase Bureau enables citizen investigators to collaboratively review all 77 pieces of archived evidence, identify new connections using interactive investigation boards, and develop theories that traditional investigations may have missed.
How can I help investigate the Murder of Brian Thompson case?
You can join the Murder of Brian Thompson investigation on Coldcase Bureau for free. Browse evidence previews as a Cadet, or subscribe as an Analyst to access the full evidence archive containing 77 items and collaborate with 3 other investigators on interactive evidence boards. You can ask questions, generate investigation boards, map connections between evidence, and contribute your own research.

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