Luigi Mangione Claims Assault by Group in Thailand Before CEO Murder Trial

Luigi Mangione, a 27-year-old former Ivy League student, is charged with the December 2024 murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, allegedly shooting him outside a Manhattan hotel. Prior to the incident, Mangione traveled through Asia, including Thailand and Japan, where he reportedly was assaulted by a group of seven transgender women in Bangkok, an event he described in WhatsApp messages and accompanied by a photo of his scratched arm. This alleged assault, however, has been questioned by sources close to Mangione at the Metropolitan Detention Center, who suggest the claim is unverified and possibly false. During his Asian travels, Mangione expressed astonishment at the affordability of healthcare abroad and engaged in spiritual activities like meditating on Mount Ōmine in Japan. Prosecutors state that Mangione had expressed disdain for the U.S. health insurance system and intended to incite debate about its flaws, with shotgun shells found at the crime scene bearing inscriptions referencing insurance industry criticism. Mangione remains detained without bail, facing federal and state trials, with his attorneys recently seeking to dismiss federal death penalty charges.