The Drumbeat

by Yasemin Ayaz

My entire life, I’ve gone to the same doctor, same dermatologist, and same pharmacy. Except recently, both my family’s doctor’s office and dermatology stopped covering our insurance, and my family’s medication prescriptions suddenly became more expensive. I reached the age where I learnt more and more about corruption in history and our modern day society. Oftentimes, we see corruption as the greediness portrayed by kings and queens and the mis-ruling of kingdoms. For example, Rapunzel was a gifted princess, kidnapped and kept away from society due to the greediness of a woman desperate to maintain her youth. A tale of greed, theft, and fraud. Nowadays, the news is plagued with stories of embezzlement, theft and fraud, minus a love plot. Corruption in story tales has been told as far as we can trace back, and at this point, we experience this corruption for ourselves.

One victim of corruption, Luigi Mangione. Similarly to Rapunzel, Luigi was born into a wealthy family that would raise him comfortably, generously, and lovingly. The Mangione surname was aligned with “wealth, power, prominence, philanthropy – particularly within the Italian community of Baltimore” (BBC). For a family that holds a reputation of being self-made, and most respected, where does a murderous son come into play?

As he was born into privilege, Luigi attended the utmost prestigious schools growing up, and continued his education at University of Pennsylvania. Spending good money on their son’s education, the Mangione’s were also living quite the philanthropic lifestyle. With a “plaque at the entrance to the Family Center at the Greater Baltimore Medical Center reads: ‘Donated by Nicholas and Mary Mangione.’” (BBC). This type of presence holds for their name to be well known in Baltimore. Luigi, a third generation Mangione in Little Italy, Baltimore, would then negate the reputation their family has created over many years and generations of immigration, hard work, and effort.

The single suspect of the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson “appeared in New York court Monday morning and pleaded not guilty 11 charges related to the shooting, including first-degree murder in furtherance of terrorism” (Forbes). If convicted, this would be the meaning for the death penalty to take place. Making media headlines, the 26 year-old was the talk of the country. With upgraded charges, Mangione faces “the first-degree murder charge in addition to second-degree murder; second-degree murder as an act of terrorism; two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree; four counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree; one count of criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree; and one count of criminal possession of a forged instrument in the second degree (Forbes). New charges would be stacked on him, including stalking. 

Luigi Mangione was arrested on Monday, December 9 in an Altoona, Pennsylvania McDonalds. The 26 year old, who would soon become a figure of consequence, was detained with a handwritten manifesto and notebook in hand with plans for the shooting. This notebook reportedly described a plan to “wack the CEO at the annual parasitic bean-counter convention” in a “targeted, precise” attack that “doesn’t risk innocents” (Forbes). Additional reports on the notebook said it contained a to-do list and the rationale behind his alleged plans. Following more details with the court and logistics of the crime, the NYPD’s released document included ideas that “police are concerned others will see Mangione as ‘a martyr and an example to follow,’ and that based on the manifesto Mangione ‘likely views himself as a hero of sorts,’ according to the Times” (Forbes).

Alas, it is left to the civilians to claim whether Luigi Mangione is the beloved hero or crooked villain of the 21st century. Though, it is never that simple. It is my belief as a human that no one person has the right to kill another. Under many circumstances, these values are overlooked. Lex talionis, in Latin, or an eye for an eye in english. No matter the language, circumstances are everything. Rumors circle that Luigi Mangione was affected mentally after medical altercations with his spine and other issues occurred in his health. The murder of Brian Thompson committed by a vigilante for the underdogs, the working class people of America. There is poetry in this case, but it is up to the individual to decide if it is made of sense or not.