SHOOTING suspect Luigi Mangione’s best friend says she was blindsided by his arrest in connection with the assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
The suspect’s pal Tracy Le, a data analyst based in New York, has been left “shaken” by the scandal, The U.S. Sun can exclusively reveal.
2
2
Mangione, 26, was arrested at a McDonald’s while carrying a ghost gun, silencer, and handwritten manifesto on Monday, authorities confirmed.
Le posted a lengthy tribute on Instagram Story just hours after he was named.
She said: “Luigi Mangione is probably the most googled keyword today.
“When I first saw the news, I was hoping it was just either a common name or a mistake.”
She added: “Because it was, for a while, the only name whose FaceTime calls I would pick up. Luigi was one of my best, closest and most trusted friends.
“He was absolutely #1 in my group chat named ‘Tracey’s favorites.’
“He was whom I always came to for identity crisis rants, relationship problems, career complaints. And always left feeling better.”
Her tribute revealed the heartbreak and confusion she faced at the actions Mangione has been accused of taking.
She went on, “He was caring, and smart, and mature, and sweet, and so considerate.
“I would visit him and always 100% depended on him to plan the trips and always 100% believed we would have the vest time.”
She ended the heartfelt post, “I am shaken, I am blindsided, but most of all I, am sad.
“I am heartbroken. I am overwhelmed.”
Le is featured in several photographs with Mangione, which remain on her Instagram account, taken in Honolulu, Hawaii, back in April 2022 with a group of friends.
It is believed they were staying in a coliving complex together and often went surfing.
The U.S. Sun has reached out to Le for further comment but did not hear back.