UnitedHealthcare CEO murder suspect had a ghost gun
(FOX 9) - When law enforcement arrested the suspect accused in the slaying of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson, he was found with a privately made firearm known as a ‘ghost gun.’
Pennsylvania court records reveal Luigi Mangione had a "3D printed pistol and a black silencer" when he was arrested and eventually charged with murder. The documents show the silencer was also 3D printed.
"They are extremely dangerous," said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. "We must do more at the federal level to clamp down on the availability of ghost guns."
Rise of ghost guns
An increasing number of ghost guns have been recovered by police in recent years in connection to crimes across the country and in Minnesota.
A ghost gun does not have a serial number and is often difficult for law enforcement to trace.
The FOX 9 Investigators previously documented how criminals have used ghost guns for a variety of violent crimes throughout Minnesota.
More than 170 state criminal charges were filed in 2023 for possession of a ghost gun, up more than five times the amount from 2021.
"Along with the rise of ghost guns, we’re seeing a rise in the number of ghost guns being used in crime," said Megan Walsh, a law professor at the University of Minnesota.
Regulating ghost guns
The Biden administration rolled out a new rule in 2022 to regulate unassembled ghost gun kits which required serial numbers and background checks.
That regulation remains in effect for now as the United States Supreme Court considers a challenge to overturn the Biden ghost gun rule.
A Minnesota state law that bans the possession of ghost guns is also being challenged. The Minnesota Supreme Court has not yet issued a ruling on the matter.