By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2024-12-12 04:38:37 | Updated at 2024-12-12 06:39:58
2 hours ago
Luigi Mangione's supporters have sent gushing messages to the alleged assassin as they raise thousands of dollars for his legal fund.
The suspected UnitedHealthcare CEO shooter, 26, has been charged with murder after his arrest at a Pennsylvania McDonald's for the December 4 slaying of Brain Thompson outside of a New York City hotel.
Mangione is now being inundated with support, with a huge fan base calling for him to be freed as they praise his actions.
Supporters started a GiveSendGo page to raise funds to cover his legal fees after GoFundMe took down pages set up for him.
Hundreds of donors have so far raised over $35,000 for the accused killer and even sent messages calling him a hero.
'All revolutions start somewhere. May the American people begin to see,' one donor said.
'Every revolution has a pioneer, a martyr. You have chosen to be the one and you will be remembered to be the one,' said another.
'I am sorry for your pain with your back, I don't think you should have taken his life - that's not ours to decide but the message is one that needed to be heard,' a supporter said.
Supporters of suspected UnitedHealthcare CEO shooter Luigi Mangione sent gushing messages to the alleged assassin
Mangione, 26, has been charged with murder for the December 4 slaying of Brain Thompson outside of a New York City hotel
'When the poor fights back, it's called violence,' said a fourth person.
The organizers of the fundraisers said they do not celebrate violence but believe in the right to fair legal representation.
'All proceeds will be sent directly to Luigi or, if he chooses to reject the funds, they will instead be donated to legal funds for other U.S political prisoners,' the fundraiser said.
Prominent attorney Thomas Dickey was hired to defend Mangione in the Keystone State.
Mangione had an action-packed day in court Tuesday where he fought against extradition to New York.
The former Ivy League student suffered a ferocious public meltdown and had to be restrained as he screamed at police while heading into the hearing.
The irate 26-year-old shouted out 'this is completely unjust and an insult to the American people' while being physically apprehended by officers on the scene.
Dramatic images from outside the building in Pennsylvania showed irate Mangione's gritted teeth and furrowed brow as he yelled - before one cop grabbed his neck from behind and hurried him through the courtroom door.
Fingerprints found at the scene of the UnitedHealthcare CEO's murder match those of the suspected killer, according to police.
NYPD sources say the gunman left a Kind bar and water bottle at the scene, and fingerprints on the objects have been matched to Mangione.
Police reportedly also found a water bottle the suspect bought at Starbucks shortly before the murder.
The fingerprint match would be the first scientific forensic evidence against Mangione.
Authorities have said Mangione was found with a three-page manifesto that is currently being investigated, which they have labeled a 'claim of responsibility.'
The document is a different piece of evidence from spiral notebook reportedly found on him where he wrote a 'to-do' list flirted with the idea of bombing Midtown to kill the millionaire healthcare boss.
In the manifesto, Mangione allegedly wrote about the grandiose size of UnitedHealthcare and how much profits it makes, and went on to condemn health insurance companies more broadly for placing profits over care.
Details about his writing come amid the backdrop of the UPenn graduate's own experience with the medical world, as he had been struggling after a spinal injury. His elaborate online presence also showed he'd read multiple books on back pain.
Mangione allegedly toyed with idea of bombing Manhattan to kill UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson (pictured)
Mangione had an action-packed day in court Tuesday where he fought against extradition to New York
'To save you a lengthy investigation, I state plainly that I wasn't working with anyone. This was fairly trivial: some elementary social engineering, basic CAD, [and] a lot of patience,' he allegedly wrote in the manifesto, according to the Daily Beast.
He went on to say he had 'respect' for federal investigators, and apologized for causing any 'traumas,' but seemed to defend his alleged actions.
'Frankly these parasites had it coming,' the manifesto wrote.
It claimed that the United States had the 'most expensive healthcare system in the world,' but blasted the system for making America only the 42nd in life expectancy.
