It’s been over a year since that freezing December morning in Midtown Manhattan, but the images still feel like they’re from a movie, not real life. You’ve probably seen the headlines or snippets of the surveillance footage. The UnitedHealthcare CEO shot full video became one of the most dissected pieces of digital evidence in recent memory. It wasn’t just a crime; it was a moment that basically set the internet on fire and opened a massive, messy conversation about the American healthcare system.
Honestly, the details of what happened outside the New York Hilton Midtown on December 4, 2024, are chilling. Brian Thompson, the 50-year-old CEO of the nation’s largest health insurer, was just walking to an investor conference. He was alone. No security. Just a guy in a suit heading to work at 6:44 a.m.
Then, the gunman stepped out.
The Chilling Timeline of the UnitedHealthcare CEO Shot Full Video
If you watch the footage, the most striking thing is how calm the shooter was. He didn't rush. He was "lying in wait" for several minutes, according to the NYPD. The video shows him standing near a pedestrian walkway, letting other people pass by until he saw Thompson.
The shooter approached from behind. He was less than 10 feet away.
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What the Surveillance Footage Actually Shows
In the UnitedHealthcare CEO shot full video, you can see the suspect raise a 9mm pistol equipped with a silencer (technically a suppressor). He fired. Then, the gun jammed.
This is where it gets surreal. Instead of panicking and running, the shooter stood there. He calmly racked the slide to clear the malfunction. He then continued to fire as Thompson tried to run and eventually collapsed. It was a targeted execution, plain and simple. After the shooting, the guy didn't even sprint away initially. He walked toward an alley, hopped on an e-bike, and disappeared into Central Park.
- Weapon used: A 9mm "ghost gun" with a 3D-printed suppressor.
- The Message: Police later found shell casings at the scene with words written in permanent marker: "Delay," "Deny," and "Depose."
- The Escape: The suspect biked through the park and eventually took a taxi to a bus terminal.
It took five days for the manhunt to end.
The Arrest of Luigi Mangione
The search ended at a McDonald's in Altoona, Pennsylvania. A worker there recognized the face from the news and called it in. When police confronted 26-year-old Luigi Mangione, he was "visibly shaken," according to reports. He had a fake ID, a passport, and a 3-page handwritten manifesto.
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Mangione wasn't some random criminal. He was a valedictorian from an elite Baltimore high school and a University of Pennsylvania grad. He was basically the "perfect" student on paper. But his manifesto told a different story—one of deep-seated anger toward corporate America and specifically the insurance industry.
He wrote about how these companies put profits over people. He talked about "parasitic" systems. While the violence was widely condemned, a weird thing happened online. Mangione became a sort of folk hero for people who had been screwed over by insurance claims.
The Legal Fallout and Charges
As we sit here in 2026, the legal battle is still dragging on. Mangione was hit with everything from first-degree murder to terrorism charges. Interestingly, a judge actually dismissed the state terrorism charges in late 2025, saying the act didn't fit the specific legal definition of trying to coerce a government.
He still faces second-degree murder charges in New York state and federal charges that could carry the death penalty. He has pleaded not guilty. His defense team is currently fighting to keep evidence found in his backpack—like the gun and that notebook—out of the trial, claiming the initial search in Pennsylvania was illegal.
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Why This Still Matters for You
The UnitedHealthcare CEO shot full video changed how companies think about security. You might have noticed that CEOs of big firms don't walk around alone in public as much anymore. UnitedHealth Group alone spent over $1.7 million on executive security in the year following the shooting.
But it also forced a public reckoning. In mid-2025, dozens of major insurers signed a pledge to "streamline" the prior authorization process. That's the red tape that often delays your doctor's orders. They realized the public anger was at a breaking point.
What to Keep in Mind Moving Forward
If you’re following this case, there are a few things to watch for as the trial dates approach:
- The Evidence Battle: If Mangione's lawyers succeed in tossing the backpack evidence, the prosecution's case gets way harder.
- The "Hero" Narrative: There is a lot of misinformation online. It's easy to get sucked into the "vigilante" story, but it's important to remember a father of two was killed.
- Healthcare Reform: Keep an eye on whether the industry actually follows through on its promises to reduce claim denials.
Honestly, the whole thing is a tragedy from every angle. It’s a reminder of how broken some of our systems are, but also how violence just creates more trauma without actually fixing the underlying problems.
If you want to stay updated on the trial proceedings, your best bet is to follow the court dockets for the Southern District of New York. Most of the "full video" clips on social media are edited or missing the full context of the NYPD's investigation. For the most accurate look at the evidence, stick to the official exhibits released by the District Attorney's office during the pretrial hearings.