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DHS Secretary Mayorkas Calls Social Media Support for UnitedHealthcare CEO's Alleged Killer 'Extraordinarily Alarming'

Dec 22, 2024, 03:40 PM

Luigi Mangione, a 26-year-old suspect accused of the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, has been the subject of widespread social media attention and support, raising concerns about the glorification of violence. Mangione, who allegedly spent weeks planning the murder due to his hostility towards the health insurance industry, was arrested in Pennsylvania and held there for 10 days before being transferred to New York to face charges, including terrorism. The Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has described the social media rhetoric following the Dec. 4 killing of Thompson, a father of two, as 'extraordinarily alarming,' warning of the risk of domestic violent extremism. While incarcerated, Mangione received over 140 messages from admirers, including 54 emails, 87 letters, and 163 deposits into an account for commissary purchases. The case has also prompted a federal investigation, influenced by the health insurance industry's leaders, aiming to deter potential copycat crimes.