Luigi Mangione, the suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, has garnered a surprising level of sympathy across the country, striking a chord among the many Americans who detest major health-insurance companies.
It seems his vigilante appeal extends to fellow inmates, too.
The cable network NewsNation scoped out the State Correctional Institution Huntingdon in Pennsylvania, where Mangione is being held after his arrest this week in nearby Altoona. In a segment taped from outside the prison, a male voice can be heard shouting “Luigi’s conditions suck!” followed by “Free Luigi!”
Whether he and other prisoners have genuine affection for Mangione or are simply relishing their unexpected time in the spotlight is unclear; in the clip, correspondent Alex Caprariello reported that some inmates had told him Mangione planned to watch the very show Caprariello was appearing on, NewsNation’s Banfield. But that would have been impossible, as the prisoners then confirmed through shouts live on air, since Mangione does not have a TV in his cell.
In any case, Mangione probably won’t be in Pennsylvania long: He is fighting a likely doomed battle against extradition to New York City on murder charges.
Correction: A previous version of this article misstated Alex Caprariello’s role at NewsNation.
