It happened fast. One minute, Brian Thompson is walking toward a Midtown Manhattan hotel for an investor conference, and the next, the 50-year-old executive is on the ground. This was December 2024, but the ripple effects are still hitting the news cycles here in early 2026. If you've spent any time on social media, you’ve likely seen people hunting for the uhc ceo shot full video x or discussing the latest courtroom drama surrounding Luigi Mangione.
Honestly, the footage is chilling. It isn't just the act itself, but the cold, methodical way it went down.
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The Footage That Went Viral
When the NYPD released the surveillance clips, they didn't show everything at once. What surfaced on X (formerly Twitter) and news sites was a sequence of events that looked like something out of a spy movie. You see Thompson, in a sharp blue suit, walking alone. No security. No entourage. Just a guy headed to work at 6:44 a.m.
Then, the shooter appears.
The suspect, later identified by authorities as Luigi Mangione, was waiting. He stepped out from behind a parked car and fired. But here is the part everyone talks about: the gun jammed. In the uhc ceo shot full video x clips, you can see the assailant calmly racking the slide to clear the malfunction before firing again. It showed a level of "proficiency," as the police put it, that signaled this wasn't some random street crime. It was a hit.
Thompson took several steps, turned to face his attacker, and then collapsed. By 7:12 a.m., he was pronounced dead at Mount Sinai West.
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Why the Internet Exploded
The reaction wasn't what you'd expect for a cold-blooded murder. Sure, officials were horrified. But on X, the "delay, deny, depose" mantra became a rallying cry for people fed up with the American healthcare system.
"My empathy is out of network."
That phrase went everywhere. It’s dark. It’s cynical. But it points to why this case became such a cultural flashpoint. People found those specific words—delay, deny, and depose—etched into the shell casings at the scene. It turned a tragedy into a "symbolic takedown" in the eyes of many.
The Hunt and the Arrest
For five days, the country was on edge. The shooter had vanished into Central Park on an e-bike, leaving behind a backpack with Monopoly money and a jacket. It felt like he might actually get away with it.
Then came the Starbucks tip.
In Altoona, Pennsylvania, a sharp-eyed employee noticed a guy who looked like the photos they'd seen on the news. When police confronted Mangione, he was carrying a 3D-printed pistol, a silencer, and a handwritten "manifesto" that absolutely tore into the insurance industry. He wasn't some career criminal. He was an Ivy League graduate, a valedictorian. That just added another layer of weirdness to the whole thing.
Where the Case Stands in 2026
Fast forward to right now. We are in January 2026, and the legal battle is a mess. Mangione is facing federal and state charges, and his lawyers are fighting tooth and nail.
- Federal Death Penalty: The government wants it. Mangione’s team is trying to block it, arguing that the stalking charges don't qualify as "crimes of violence."
- The Evidence Fight: There’s a huge dispute over whether the gun and the notebook found in his bag can even be used in court because they were searched before a warrant was signed.
- The Supporters: You still see people showing up to court dressed in green—a nod to the "Luigi" character from Mario—carrying "Free Luigi" signs. It’s surreal.
Addressing the Misconceptions
There’s a lot of noise surrounding the uhc ceo shot full video x and the motive. Some claim this was a professional hit funded by a rival. There is zero evidence for that. Every piece of data we have suggests Mangione acted alone, driven by a personal, radicalized loathing of corporate healthcare practices.
Others think the video shows a second shooter. Again, no. The multiple angles provided by NYPD and private security cameras show a lone individual. The "glitch" people see in some grainy social media uploads is usually just compression artifacts or the shooter clearing that specific gun jam.
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What This Means for the Future
This case changed how executives move. You don’t see many CEOs of Fortune 500 companies walking solo in Manhattan anymore. Security details have become the standard, not the exception.
Beyond the security, the "delay, deny, depose" discovery forced a very uncomfortable conversation about prior authorizations and claim denials. While the act was a crime, the frustration it tapped into was very real for millions of patients.
Key Takeaways and Next Steps
If you are following the trial or researching the background of this event, keep these points in mind:
- Verify the Source: Much of what circulates as the "full video" on X is often edited or contains misleading commentary. Stick to verified news archives for the actual surveillance footage.
- Monitor the Pretrial Rulings: The next big date is in May 2026, when a judge will rule on the suppression of evidence. If that 3D-printed gun gets thrown out, the prosecution's case takes a massive hit.
- Understand the Context: This wasn't just a murder; it was a political statement that has polarized the public. Whether you see a villain or a "folk hero" usually depends on your personal experience with health insurance.
The trial is expected to start in late 2026 or early 2027, depending on how these federal motions play out. It’s going to be one of the most watched legal events of the decade.