By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2024-12-12 02:37:08 | Updated at 2024-12-22 22:23:32
1 week ago
The CEO of the parent company that oversees UnitedHealthcare called murdered former CEO Brian Thompson 'one of the good guys' in a memo to staff.
Luigi Mangione, 26, was taken into custody on firearm charges Monday afternoon at the fast food joint in Altoona, Pennsylvania, five days after he allegedly shot and killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Thompson, 50, outside of a Manhattan hotel.
In the aftermath of the shooting, many expressed online outrage over the company's history of rejecting necessary treatment - especially under Thompson - as they praised the gunman for his actions.
UnitedHealth Group CEO Andrew Witty has repeatedly attempted to stem the tidal wave of hate towards Thompson in the wake of his death and did so again in a memo to staff members Wednesday.
'Brian was one of the good guys. He was certainly one of the smartest guys. I think he was one of the best guys. I'm going to miss him. And I am incredibly proud to call him my friend,' Witty wrote.
Witty made no reference to the anger toward Thompson and his company in the letter but heaped praise on his former CEO.
'Many have said that we're all a little better for knowing Brian. There is no truer statement than that. As we begin to move forward, the best way to honor his life and all that he stood for is to carry on his legacy — continuing to do right by the people who've entrusted us with their care and those who are counting on us to take care of their loved ones.'
He added that employees 'owe it to Brian to make good on our promise to make health care work better for everybody, in every way.'
UnitedHealth Group CEO Andrew Witty has repeatedly attempted to stem the tidal wave of hate towards Brian Thompson in the wake of his death and did so again in a memo to staff members Wednesday
'We're going to make sure medicines are filled, infusions are administered and people can navigate their therapies for the rarest states of disease,' Witty wrote, adding, ' And we'll be there when people are coming out of the hospital — if only just to hold their hand as they get back on their feet.'
Social media users still appeared out for Thompson's blood in the replies to independent journalist Ken Klippenstein, who obtained the letter.
'Ain't no such thing as a 'good guy' healthcare CEO,' wrote one reply.
Another added: 'If you have to repeatedly insist someone was a good person instead of just clearly laying out the good they did, they weren't a good person.'
'Working in healthcare has made me realize how much of a scam it is,' snapped another. 'When you need to tell yourself and others you 'love your job cause you're helping others' while at the same time making people choose death or bankruptcy, you're not helping others.'
One more added: 'This sums up corporate America so well. Tone deaf to the core, no wonder it's so easy for them to deny life saving care for millions of Americans every year.'
Klippenstein himself wrote: 'Staff are frustrated with how tone deaf the response has been.'
It has since been claimed that Mangione had a manifesto against UnitedHealthcare after suffering a debilitating back injury which required painful spinal surgery.
Luigi Mangione , 26, was taken into custody on firearm charges Monday afternoon at the fast food joint in Altoona, Pennsylvania , five days after he allegedly shot and killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Thompson (pictured), 50, outside of a Manhattan hotel
Social media users still appeared out for Thompson's blood in the replies to independent journalist Ken Klippenstein , who obtained the letter
At a press conference, the NYPD's chief of detectives Joseph Kenny said Mangione had a three-page, handwritten document that shows 'ill will toward corporate America.'
A law enforcement official who wasn't authorized to discuss the investigation publicly and spoke with The Associated Press on condition of anonymity said the document included a line in which Mangione claimed to have acted alone.
'To the Feds, I'll keep this short, because I do respect what you do for our country. To save you a lengthy investigation, I state plainly that I wasn't working with anyone,' the document said, according to the official.
It also had a line that said, 'I do apologize for any strife or traumas but it had to be done. Frankly, these parasites simply had it coming.'
He made his first court appearance after being charged with murder on Tuesday - pouting as he was escorted out of the hearing, after suffering a ferocious public meltdown hours earlier.
The orange jumpsuit-clad suspect had to be restrained as he screamed at police while heading into court in Altoona, Pennsylvania. Mangione was arrested at a McDonald's in Altoona on Monday.
Thomas Dickey, Mangione's lawyer, said on Tuesday night that his client will also plead not guilty to the gun possession charges he is facing in Pennsylvania.
The wealthy CEO was in the Big Apple to host UnitedHealthcare's annual investor meeting, where he was set to detail the insurance company's massive profits for the year.
It has since been claimed that Mangione had a manifesto against UnitedHealthcare after suffering a debilitating back injury which required painful spinal surgery
Surveillance camera footage showed him walking outside a Hilton hotel in midtown Manhattan when he was shot at point-blank range by three bullets.
The shell casings were later found to have the words 'deny,' 'defend', 'depose' written on them, in an apparent attack on health insurance practices.
It is believed Mangione was angry at the way the medical insurance industry treated a sick relative, according to the New York Post.
Further details on that relative or their identity have not been shared, although online obituaries show Mangione lost a grandmother in 2013 and a grandfather in 2017.
His X account also shows an x-ray of a complicated neck surgery.
The former valedictorian was also in possession of a 3D-printed pistol and black silencer, with police noting that the pistol was loaded with one Glock magazine comprising six 9mm full-metal jacket rounds.
One loose 9mm hollow-point round was also located.
Officers from Altoona Police Department remained stationed inside the restaurant Monday night, as surveillance footage showed the moment Mangione was arrested.
Luigi Mangione, 26, was taken into custody on firearm charges Monday afternoon
Authorities later confirmed that Mangione alighted a Greyhound bus opposite the McDonald's at around 9am on Monday morning, after leading NYPD cops on a cross-country chase.
Staff at nearby restaurants say they were unaware that the killer had been apprehended just yards from their doors, simply recalling that local police cars had been in the vicinity.
Officers now believe Mangione had been in Pennsylvania for several days following Thompson's December 4 murder, and may have previously spent time in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, according to the New York Times.
'We do have an idea how he got from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh, but there are some gaps in time,' Lt. Col. George Bivens said.
'And so before we start laying out a timeline of his travel, we really need to work through all of that.'
Mangione is now due back in court for a preliminary hearing on December 23.
