To begin, let’s establish a moral framework: murder is objectively wrong. Taking another life cannot and should not be justified in a civil society. Yet, in the court of public opinion, the lines blur when individuals like Luigi Mangione emerge — figures who channel the frustration of an entire generation into sudden shocking acts.
The cultural fascination with vigilante justice is nothing new. These icons operate under a moral code of their own design, often stepping in where institutions fail. From Batman to The Godfather and John Q., society has long heroized those who defy the system in the name of the perceived greater good. Now, Mangione, a 26-year-old Ivy League graduate with an impressive academic record and seemingly wholesome demeanour, finds himself at the centre of this narrative.
When Mangione allegedly shot and killed insurance company UnitedHealthcare’s CEO Brian Thompson in New York on December 4, the internet reacted not with universal condemnation, but with admiration and even outright support. This shouldn’t be surprising — I believe it reflects the deep-seated cynicism and distrust that young people feel toward the institutions meant to protect and serve them.
The case of Mangione exemplifies society’s troubling admiration for vigilante justice, revealing its disillusionment with failing institutions and highlighting the urgent need for systemic reform to address economic and healthcare injustices.
How Mangione became a symbol
Mangione’s online footprint paints a picture of a bright, accomplished individual who, by most accounts, seemed poised to thrive within the system. Yet, reports suggest he was burdened by intense grievances against the US healthcare industry, which many Americans share. His alleged manifesto points to frustration with soaring medical costs, bureaucratic hurdles, and a pervasive sense that the healthcare system prioritizes profit over human life.
Consider this: studies estimate that nearly 45,000 Americans die annually due to lack of health insurance. To put that into perspective, that’s more than 120 preventable deaths a day — losses not caused by violence or crime but by economic barriers.
Meanwhile, pharmaceutical executives and health insurance CEOs continue to rake in record profits. Additionally, in 2021, Thompson was widely criticized for UnitedHealthcare’s plan to deny coverage for “non-emergent” visits to hospital emergency rooms to curb company costs. The company rolled back on the plan after criticism from individuals and the American Hospital Association.
When Mangione was dragged out of the courtroom in his orange prison clothes, he exclaimed that something was “an insult to the intelligence of the American people” — likely referring, in my opinion, to the dysfunctional US healthcare system. His words resonated because they reflected the widespread frustration felt by many in the court of public opinion.
Disillusionment isn’t limited to healthcare. From stagnant wages to unaffordable housing, younger American generations increasingly feel left behind by institutions that promise opportunity but deliver inequality. Healthcare feels particularly egregious, as it is a system where one’s economic standing can dictate life and death.
Murder by omission versus commission?
I believe Mangione’s case exposes troubling inconsistencies in how the legal system defines and prosecutes acts of violence. He faces terrorism charges for the killing of a single man, while corporate decisions in the healthcare industry — linked to tens of thousands of preventable deaths each year — remain unaccountable.
This stark contrast raises unsettling questions for me: why is Mangione labelled a terrorist for targeting one executive, while insurance companies that deny coverage or set exorbitant prices — contributing to the deaths of thousands annually — operate without criminal liability? And how can the justice system justify branding Mangione a terrorist, while treating the systemic denial of care as regular protocol rather than a moral or legal crime?
In cases like the 2022 Buffalo supermarket shooting, which resulted in 10 fatalities, and the 2022 Brooklyn subway attack, which injured 10 people, the perpetrators were charged with terrorism for indiscriminate violence aimed at civilians. Yet, Mangione’s actions, though unlawful, appear more personal — supposedly driven by frustration with the healthcare system’s perceived exploitation and injustice.
This then begs the question, who is Mangione terrorizing?
I see the terrorism charges and possible death penalty against Mangione as suggesting a legal double standard: violence against individuals in positions of power is swiftly condemned, while corporate policies that perpetuate suffering and death receive far less scrutiny. This disparity fuels public cynicism, reinforcing the belief that the legal system prioritizes corporate interests over the lives of ordinary Americans.
Romanticizing the vigilante
To me, public reactions to Mangione echo the glorification of vigilantes in popular culture. John Q., portrayed by Denzel Washington, held an entire hospital hostage to secure life-saving surgery for his son. Audiences didn’t cheer because they supported violence, but because they felt the injustice was too blatant to ignore.
Mangione’s case taps into this same narrative. Many people view him not as a criminal, but as someone who took matters into his own hands — a product of a society that continuously fails to reform itself.
However, I believe glorifying vigilantism carries inherent dangers. It legitimizes violence as a form of protest, eroding trust in lawful avenues for change. Yet, this is precisely the paradox confronting much of the world today: as institutions break down, the public sees vigilantes as the only viable answer.
Therefore, the solution isn’t to celebrate Mangione but to address the underlying factors that made him a symbol of defiance. Healthcare reform, income equality, and systemic accountability are the true solutions — not bullets or public spectacles.
Until meaningful change occurs, figures like Mangione will continue to emerge, embodying the anger of a nation fed up with injustice.
Mishaal Sabir is a fourth-year student at University College studying political science, criminology and socio-legal studies, and Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations.
