Luigi Mangione, who has been named a person of interest in the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, has been described as an all-around good guy … this according to his friends.
Sources close to Mangione tell TMZ … they don’t have anything negative to say about the person of interest — though, some had some not-so-nice things to say about his family. (More on that later on!!!)
One pal described LM as “an exceptionally kind and compassionate friend” … and made a point to highlight that Mangione, who attended University of Pennsylvania, is a “very intelligent” individual.
We spoke with another one of Mangione’s acquaintances, who revealed he was in the same fraternity as LM — Phi Kappa Psi — but admitted they didn’t interact too frequently.
Still, the source remembered Mangione as a normal guy … who didn’t have any notable health issues — which some have speculated could’ve been a possible motivation in the crime.
While Mangione has had nothing but his praises sung in the aftermath of being named a person of interest, we’re told his family has quite a different reputation.
Another person familiar with the Mangione family tells TMZ … they are very wealthy and well-known across Maryland — where LM grew up — as they own several businesses in the state, including various senior and assisted living homes.
According to one ex-employee who worked for the family for over 10 years, they are hard to work for … with the former staffer noting that they’re “very harsh” with employees and expect a lot.
The person says most of the Mangione family is still based in Maryland … with Luigi being the notable exception to move out of state.
We’ve reached out to multiple members of the Mangione family for comment … so far, no word back.
Luigi Mangione was declared a “strong person of interest” in the case Monday in a news conference in New York City … authorities said he was detained at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania after he was recognized by an employee from suspect photos. He allegedly had a gun and a fake ID related to the case, and had a handwritten “manifesto.” Thompson, a healthcare industry executive, was fatally shot outside a hotel in Midtown Manhattan early Wednesday morning last week.