An X user assured the online community they "didn't know anything" when they posted a Luigi meme before UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting suspect Luigi Mangione's name was even known to the public.
Their initial post was a response to the "Find Luigi" game that has gone viral on X the last few weeks; the game invites users to search for Nintendo's Luigi character amid a sea of Marios, Warios, and Yoshis.
And on December 4—five days before Mangione was publicly identified—X user @whambamcamm_, in response to a post from someone who noted that police were looking for a 5' 10" male in "a part of Manhattan ... covered in cameras," posted a clip of the game along with the following caption:
"pov ur a cop trying to find the united healthcare shooter and he's a 5'10" white guy in new york"
You can see the post below.
And in the wake of the shooting, the post went viral for having "prophesied" Mangione's identity.
The poster was adamant that he "didn't know" anything before Mangione was arrested...
...which people found even funnier.
Mangione was charged last Monday in Manhattan with second-degree murder, forgery, and three firearm-related offenses. The charges stem from the fatal shooting of Thompson in Midtown Manhattan last week. The New York Police Department had previously released images of Mangione in connection with the incident.
Reports suggest that Mangione underwent back surgery and may suffer from chronic back pain. Authorities revealed the suspect had written a manifesto criticizing the health insurance industry. Public reactions to Thompson’s killing have varied widely, ranging from condemnation to indifference, and even celebratory responses in some corners.
Mangione's actions appeared to be fueled by anger toward the health insurance industry and broader frustrations with “corporate greed.”
Critics of UnitedHealthcare have pointed out its controversial practices, including the use of algorithms to deny care, and noted that it has the highest claim denial rate among health insurers.
@GovPressOffice/X
