(NewsNation) — A former high school classmate of Luigi Mangione, the man charged in the shooting death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson had been following the case since last week but said he never connected Mangione with the crime until Monday.
Luigi Mangione growing up
Freddie Leatherbury, who has known Mangione since the sixth grade, told NewsNation on Tuesday that it has been difficult to see his high school portrayed in a negative national spotlight since Mangione was arrested. Leatherbury says those who know Mangione remain shocked.
“My life since about 1 (p.m.) Eastern time yesterday has just been so surreal,” Leatherbury said.
Luigi Mangione accused in UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting
Mangione, 26, was charged with several criminal offenses, including murder. Mangione, 26, was denied bail and faces a preliminary hearing on Dec. 23.
Mangione will likely be taken to a state correctional facility Monday evening, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said. Mangione was arrested at an Altoona, Pennsylvania, McDonald’s following a dayslong manhunt after Thompson was shot and killed on a Manhattan sidewalk last week.
“Nothing connected to me when I saw the surveillance footage,” Leatherbury said. “It’s so impressive to me that the McDonald’s worker of all people who had never seen this person in his life picked him out of a crowd basically and said, ‘I know that guy. He’s the wanted guy.’ That’s crazy to me.”
Leatherbury said he and Mangione weren’t in the same social circles but were friendly. He remembers Luigi as being driven, smart and athletic. He said Mangione was everything one could want in a high school student.
Luigi Mangione on social media
Leatherbury said he followed Mangione on social media. He characterized him as an infrequent poster on social platforms and that he did not see any red flags that indicated he was capable of committing a crime with which he is charged.
“It doesn’t seem thinkable that this is the same person,” Leatherbury said, adding, “It just goes so against everything I knew about Luigi.”
He added: “None of us can come up with any leads or any or any history of inclination to do anything like this.”
Leatherbury said that there isn’t much “worth hearing” regarding Mangione, but said his thoughts are focused on Thompson’s family.
He also said Mangione’s family is grieving the loss of life they’re going to have with Mangione.
“So a lot of families are hurting right now,” Leatherbury told NewsNation. “So I I don’t really need to know much more from Luigi, to be honest. I just want to know that they’re at peace and comfortable with what’s going on moving forward.”