Luigi Mangione, a 26-year-old man, has been arrested on gun charges and is being questioned in connection with the high-profile killing of Brian Thompson, the chief executive of UnitedHealthcare, on Wednesday in Midtown Manhattan.

According to The New York Times, the incident, which triggered a nationwide manhunt, ended with an arrest in Altoona, Pennsylvania, on Monday.

Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch confirmed Mr Mangione’s arrest during a press briefing, revealing that he was apprehended at a McDonald’s after an employee recognised him and alerted authorities. “He was sitting there eating,” said Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny.  

At the time of his arrest, Mr Mangione was reportedly in possession of a firearm, a silencer, and several fake identification cards, one of which matched the fraudulent New Jersey ID used by the suspected gunman at a Manhattan hostel on November 24.

Law enforcement officials noted that the gun appears to be a ghost gun, potentially assembled using 3D-printed parts.  

Adding to the intrigue, police discovered a handwritten manifesto in Mr Mangione’s possession.

The document reportedly criticised healthcare companies for prioritising profits over patient care.  

Mr Thompson was fatally shot outside a Midtown hotel and authorities believe the gunman fled New York by bus shortly after the attack, a detail that aligns with Mr Mangione’s own travel via Greyhound to Altoona.