Luigi Mangione, suspected of murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in an apparent premeditated attack in Manhattan, has captured public attention due to his disturbing ideological influences.
Mangione, known for publicly sharing reviews of nearly 300 books, praised the manifesto of Ted Kaczynski, the "Unabomber," on a book website.
In his review, he highlighted that Kaczynski "had the guts to acknowledge that peaceful protests have absolutely not taken us anywhere" and dismissed criticism of the use of violence as a tool for social change.
What did the "Unabomber" do?
This connection has revived the shadows of Ted Kaczynski's legacy, who carried out a terror campaign through homemade bombs between 1978 and 1995. Kaczynski, a Harvard mathematician turned hermit, protested against technological advancements and their negative effects on modern society.
His attacks killed three people and injured 23 others, before his brother identified him by the writing style of his 30,000-word manifesto, published in 1995. He was arrested at his cabin in Montana in 1996 and sentenced to eight life sentences. He died in prison on June 10, 2023.
David Kaczynski, brother of the "Unabomber," expressed his pain upon learning that his brother's ideas may have influenced Mangione. In an interview with NBC News, he described justifying violence based on Ted's ideas as a "terrible mistake." "It causes me great personal pain to think that my brother's actions may have contributed in some way to influencing a man like this to kill an innocent human being," he stated.
The case highlights how extreme ideologies can be reinterpreted and used to justify new acts of violence. Mangione’s fascination with the “Unabomber” underscores the need to address the roots of radicalization and the dangers of romanticizing violent figures, whose actions continue to have repercussions years later.