While praising the individual who alerted authorities to the whereabouts of a guy wanted in the December 4 murder of UnitedHealth CEO Brian Thompson, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro had harsher words for anyone who may consider the suspect a hero.
After someone in the Altoona McDonald’s called 911 this morning, Luigi Mangione, who is thought to be a strong person of interest in the murder, was taken into custody on suspicion of forgery and fraudulent identity.
According to the Associated Press, police claimed Mangione had papers that implied his resentment of corporate America and a gun thought to be identical to the one used in the murder.
Shaprio congratulated local, state, and federal law enforcement officers for their efforts during a press conference in Blair County this evening, but he reserved his greatest gratitude for the anonymous individual who initially notified authorities.
He stated, “I want to start by thanking our fellow Pennsylvanian who did something heroic today.” He told our local police about what he saw at McDonald’s earlier this morning. And our Altoona local police responded quickly.
In addition, Shapiro commended Tyler Frye, the arresting officer, who has only been with the Altoona Police Department for six months.
He moved quickly. Shapiro claimed that he behaved calmly and intelligently.
Shapiro continued by stating that before his arrest in Altoona, Mangione had traveled around the state, including to Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and other places. He encouraged anybody who may have seen him or know anything about his whereabouts to call the state tip line at 800-472-8477.
He said, “I want to ask all of our fellow Pennsylvanians to help law enforcement… as we continue with our investigation, and show the same kind of thoughtfulness, courage, and intelligence as the individual in McDonald’s did this morning.”
Shapiro also took a moment to denounce some of the online support for the murder that has come from those who believe that insurance companies prioritize executive suite compensation and shareholder profits over the lives and medical needs of their clients.
On Monday, December 9, 2024, in Altoona, Pennsylvania, New York Police officers arrive at the Altoona Police Department, where a guy with a gun believed to be the same one used in the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson has been placed under arrest. (Gene J. Puskar/AP Photo)AP
“We don’t kill people in America to settle policy disputes or voice our opinions,” he remarked. I am aware that many individuals are quite irritated with our healthcare system. I’ve spent my career trying to remedy that. However, I don’t tolerate—and neither should anyone else—one man killing someone with an illegal ghost gun because he believes his viewpoint is the most important. Idealogues who practice vigilante justice put all of us in a civil society at risk.
This murderer is being praised as a hero in certain shadowy quarters. Listen to me: He is not a hero. The individual who dialed 911 at McDonald’s this morning is the true hero of this tale.
We should be careful not to dehumanize [Thomopson] and reduce him to a symbol of a system that many people find objectionable. He was a husband and a father. He didn’t deserve to pass away in this manner on a New York City sidewalk.
Shapiro said that violence can never be used to resolve political disagreements, address genuine issues, or seek to establish an ideological point when asked about the parallels between Thompson’s death and the July 13 attempted assassination of Donald Trump in Butler.
We in a civilized society don’t do that. That is true everywhere; it was true in Butler and New York City. He asserted that this is not the way to advance in this nation.
This suspect is not a hero; he is a coward. Additionally, we must ensure that we resume having polite conversations about our differences in our nation. I believe the rest of the country needs to hear the vital message that Pennsylvania has to provide.
Healthcare CEO shooting
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