It’s just before 7:00 a.m. in Midtown Manhattan. The city is waking up in that cold, grey way December mornings usually do. Brian Thompson, the 50-year-old CEO of UnitedHealthcare, is walking alone toward the New York Hilton Midtown for an investor conference. He doesn’t have a security detail. He doesn’t look worried. Then, from the shadows of a sidewalk, a man in a mask steps out.
What followed was caught on multiple cameras, and honestly, the unitedhealthcare ceo shooting footage is some of the most chilling surveillance video you’ll ever see. It wasn't a random mugging. It was a cold, calculated execution that felt more like a scene from a spy thriller than a Wednesday morning in New York.
The shooter didn’t just fire and run. He waited. He watched. He actually spent about five or six minutes lurking outside the hotel, letting other people walk by until his target appeared. When Thompson finally came into view, the gunman moved with a weird, robotic kind of precision.
Breaking Down the Surveillance Video
When you look at the raw footage, a few things jump out immediately. First, the gun. Police say it was a suppressed 9mm pistol—basically a "ghost gun" equipped with a silencer. In the video, you can see the shooter raise the weapon and fire. But then, something goes wrong.
The gun jams.
Instead of panicking, the shooter stays totally calm. You see him stop, rack the slide of the pistol to clear the jam, and then keep firing. He actually had to manually cycle the action after almost every shot. It’s a detail that made investigators think the weapon might have been a 3D-printed firearm or just a very poorly assembled "kit" gun.
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Despite the mechanical failure, the gunman was effective. Thompson was hit in the back and the calf. He tried to get away, stumbling toward the hotel entrance, but the shooter followed him, clearing the jam one last time to finish the job. It was brutal.
The Escape Route
After the shooting, the footage captures the suspect’s "getaway." He didn't jump into a black SUV. He didn't have a driver waiting. Instead, he basically just walked between some parked cars, hopped on an e-bike, and pedaled off toward Central Park.
- 6:44 a.m.: The shooting occurs outside the Hilton.
- 6:48 a.m.: A camera catches the suspect on an e-bike heading toward the park.
- 7:12 a.m.: Brian Thompson is officially pronounced dead at Mount Sinai West.
For days, that was all anyone had. A grainy image of a guy in a mask and a backpack. But then the NYPD started pulling footage from everywhere—Starbucks, hostels, subway stations. They found a clip of him at a Starbucks nearby just minutes before the murder. He bought a coffee, a water, and a granola bar. He paid in cash. Most importantly, he left behind a water bottle and a coffee cup that eventually gave police the DNA they needed.
The Suspect: Who is Luigi Mangione?
The investigation eventually led to a 26-year-old named Luigi Mangione. If you’ve seen the news lately, his name is everywhere. He wasn't some career criminal. He was a valedictorian from a wealthy Maryland family and a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania.
When he was finally caught at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, on December 9, 2024, he had a "manifesto" on him. This wasn't just a random act of violence; it was a political statement. The shell casings found at the scene even had words written on them in Sharpie: "Delay," "Deny," and "Depose."
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These words are a direct jab at the insurance industry's reputation for "delaying, denying, and defending" against claims. It’s why this case became such a lightning rod. Half the country saw a cold-blooded killer, while the other half—frustrated by their own medical bills—started treats him like some kind of folk hero. It’s a weird, dark reflection of how broken people feel the healthcare system is.
Latest Updates from the 2026 Trial
Fast forward to right now, January 2026. The legal battle is getting messy. Mangione is facing both state and federal charges.
Actually, just a few days ago, on January 9, 2026, there was a huge hearing in Manhattan federal court. Mangione’s lawyers are fighting like hell to keep the death penalty off the table. They’re also trying to get a bunch of evidence thrown out—specifically the stuff found in his backpack when he was arrested. They argue the police searched it without a warrant.
The judge, Margaret Garnett, hasn't ruled on that yet, but she did give us a timeline. We’re looking at a trial starting around December 2026 if it stays a death penalty case. If the capital charges get dropped, it could start as early as October.
Why the Footage Still Matters
You might wonder why people are still obsessed with the unitedhealthcare ceo shooting footage more than a year later. Honestly, it’s because it’s the primary evidence. Every frame is being analyzed by ballistics experts and defense attorneys.
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There’s also the "smile." One of the most famous pieces of footage isn't from the shooting itself, but from a hostel check-in. Mangione briefly lowered his mask to smile at the front desk clerk. That "money shot," as the NYPD called it, was what finally gave them a clear face to match to the DNA.
Actionable Insights and What to Watch For
If you’re following this case, there are a few specific things you should keep an eye on over the next few months:
- The Evidence Suppression Hearing: This is the big one. If the defense successfully gets the "manifesto" or the gun found in the backpack suppressed, the prosecution’s case gets a lot harder.
- The Death Penalty Decision: U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has been vocal about seeking the death penalty. Watch for whether the defense can prove her comments "tainted" the grand jury process.
- Corporate Security Shifts: Since the shooting, you’ve probably noticed that executive security has gone through the roof. Most major CEOs don't walk alone in Manhattan anymore.
The reality is that this wasn't just a crime; it was a cultural moment. Whether you see Mangione as a murderer or a symptom of a failing system, the footage of that morning on West 54th Street changed the way we think about corporate safety and public anger forever.
If you want to stay updated, keep a close watch on the New York Supreme Court filings. The state trial is expected to happen before the federal one, and that’s where the most graphic evidence—including the unreleased angles of the shooting—will likely be shown to a jury for the first time.