Luigi Mangione, the suspect in the murder of United Healthcare CEO, may have used a 3D printed gun

On Monday, after a five-day manhunt to find the man who shot and killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City, police arrested suspect Luigi Mangione, 26, and charged him with murder.

When asked for the identification, investigators said Mangione, a former high school valedictorian and software engineer from a prominent Baltimore family, used the same ID he used to check into a New York City hostel days before the assassination. He said he provided the same fake identification he had used. A search for Mangione revealed a manifesto that apparently read, “These parasites have arrived.”

Law enforcement also found “a black 3D-printed handgun and a black silencer” in Mangione’s backpack, according to the police report. The gun was equipped with “one Glock magazine containing six rounds of 9mm full metal jacket ammunition,” the report said. Officials said they believe this is the same weapon used by the gunman in surveillance footage of the killing.

Investigators and online sleuths are currently examining Mangione’s digital footprint, including his Goodreads and Reddit accounts, to understand who he is. But one of the most important details in the official investigation will be where and how Mangione obtained the weapon.

The fact that the suspect allegedly used a “ghost gun” (a gun that is essentially handmade and often lacks a serial number like the serial number required for guns sold by major manufacturers) usually indicates that the weapon would make tracking difficult. However, this case may be a little simpler. As reported by 404media, and as pointed out by several 3D gun printing enthusiasts on the internet, the gun found in Mangione is the Chairman, a weapon named after its designer. It has the same frame characteristics as Won V1. Chairman Wong’s designs are well known among homebrew gun enthusiasts. (Vox reached out to Chairman Wong for confirmation but did not receive a response by publication time.)

And while this may be the first high-profile shooting attempt using a 3D printed gun, the fact that a ghost gun was likely used is not surprising. In recent years, they have become more frequent at crime scenes, posing a serious challenge to investigators trying to solve crimes.

Ghost guns are meant to be untraceable

Federal gun regulations require manufacturers to print serial numbers on weapons. It also requires federally licensed firearms dealers to conduct background checks on people looking to buy guns.

Background checks are intended to prevent people who are not legally allowed to own a gun, such as minors or people convicted of felonies, from purchasing guns. If a crime occurs, the serial number can help investigators know who purchased the weapon and determine whether the person who purchased the gun used it in the crime or someone else. Masu.

But ghost guns allow people to circumvent the regulations.

As 3D printers have become more accessible, so too has a niche market for designing, printing, and selling weapon kits to assemble at home. Ghost guns aren’t easy to track down because they don’t have serial numbers. And by selling them online as kits, both manufacturers and buyers were able to avoid the regulations required to purchase other guns. That makes ghost guns a particularly attractive option for people who cannot legally purchase guns or who want to use them for illegal purposes.

As a result, the number of ghost guns recovered from crime scenes has exploded. The number of these privately made guns submitted to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) for tracking increased by more than 1,000 percent between 2017 and 2021. Gun violence researchers also say ghost guns have become popular among teenagers amid mass shootings. The youth gun violence epidemic.

Ghost gun’s uncertain future

Ghost gun makers have frustrated lawmakers in part because they have been able to circumvent existing regulations. But in 2022, the ATF expanded the definition of a firearm under the 1968 Gun Control Act as part of the Biden administration’s pledge to crack down on ghost guns. Essentially, the changes forced ghost gun manufacturers to operate like regular gun manufacturers and dealers, requiring them to include serial numbers on their products and conduct background checks on potential buyers.

Gun rights groups are challenging the ruling in Garland v. Vanderstoke, asking a judge to consider whether Ghost gun kits and the frames used to assemble them count as firearms under gun control laws. I asked for it. In 2023, a judge ruled in favor of gun rights groups. However, the Supreme Court issued a stay order, allowing the law to remain in effect while the case is heard. During oral arguments in October, the justices appeared likely to uphold ghost gun regulations when they issue a ruling later this term.

Meanwhile, the regulation appears to have an impact on the number of ghost guns used at crime scenes. Cities that collect relevant data appear to have seen a significant drop in the number of ghost guns recovered from crime scenes since the 2022 ban, according to an analysis by The Trace. A legal challenge to one of the major manufacturers of ghost guns found at crime scenes also almost certainly had an impact.

Forcing private gun manufacturers to operate like gun manufacturers seems to have worked, but it doesn’t completely solve the problem. As long as people can easily print and manufacture their own 3D weapons, there’s a good chance we’ll find a way to continue printing guns without serial numbers, and some of them will no doubt show up at crime scenes. However, as certain firearm manufacturers become more well-known, some firearms may become easier to identify. In Mangione’s case, police got lucky, assuming they had the right suspect. When they approached Mangione five days after the crime, he still had the murder weapon.