(NewsNation) — An online fandom has rapidly grown for the sole suspect in the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO, with supporters raising more than $100,000 on a crowdfunding site to pay for Luigi Mangione’s legal defense fund.
The 26-year-old was arrested Dec. 9 when a customer tipped off police about his resemblance to the person in wanted posters in connection to the death of CEO Brian Thompson.
Mangione hired high-profile criminal attorney Karen Friedman Agnifilo of the law firm Agnifilo Intrater as he faces second-degree murder and other charges.
An anonymous group that identifies itself as the “December 4th Legal Committee” organized an online legal fund the same day of his arrest on the crowdfunding site GiveSendGo. The group’s name may be a nod to the day of the killing.
Mangione’s crowdfunded legal defense fund
Online supporters have donated more than $110,000 as of Sunday morning, an amount that was growing every few minutes.
“We are not here to celebrate violence, but we do believe in the constitutional right of fair legal representation,” the organizers wrote in the fundraiser’s description.
In an update posted on Saturday, the organizers said they plan to reach out to Mangione’s lawyer and ask what he wants to do with the money. A few days before, the organizers said they sent a letter to Mangione in jail. At the time of the letter, the fundraiser generated $30,000.
The organizers posted the content of the letter in an update on Dec. 11:
“Dear Luigi Mangione, you are going through a lot right now, but we wanted to let you know that we set up a legal defense fund for you and we have received over $30,000 and counting to put towards your defense,” the letter said. “or if you do not want the funds, toward the defense of other political prisoners and defendants facing politicized charges.
Social media frenzy, support for Mangione
Site users have left comments sharing their experiences with the healthcare industry and showing solidarity with Mangione.
“Luigi ~ Thank you for being a benevolent catalyst for change that we’ve so desperately needed. You are an angel,” one person who donated $50 wrote Sunday morning.
“Luigi you are not alone in this battle,” said another, who donated $100.
“It’s indicative of really untapped consternation and upset about a system that many people feel is very, very cruel, innately cruel, maybe akin to murder,” said Scott Nover, a Business Insider contributor, to NewsNation.
UnitedHealthcare is one of the largest healthcare companies in the U.S., although police said Mangione was never a client.
“I think it has tapped into something that is much bigger than the identity of the shooter or the identity of the victim. It has become a placeholder for people to channel their grief and grievances,” said Nover, who has reported on the social media frenzy in this case.
Some support even comes from beyond American borders.
“Watching from Sweden! This is half of the money on my account at the moment, im broke until christmas. But i couldnt wait to show my support!! The whole world is watching!” said another, who gave $5.
Merchandise with Mangione’s likeness and the words found on bullet casings from the shooting have been circulating on online retail sites as well.
GoFundMe removes fundraisers for Mangione
GoFundMe one of the most well-known crowdfunding platforms, prohibits fundraisers for legal defense of violent crimes, including murder, according to its terms of service.
NBC News reported it found three fundraisers for Mangione on GoFundMe that had been removed.
GiveSendGo permits them and also has a legal defense fund campaign for Daniel Penny, the former Marine who was recently acquitted of murdering a homeless man on a New York subway, organized by a different group. Donation campaigns on the site also include requests for help with medical and emergency expenses.
It previously gained attention for hosting fundraisers for Kenosha shooter Kyle Rittenhouse, Jan. 6 rioters and the 2022 Canadian anti-vaccine trucker convoy.