What are ghost guns? Everything to know about the homemade weapon possessed by Brian Thompson's murder suspect, Luigi Mangione

The recent tragic murder of Brian Thompson has cast a spotlight on the growing concern surrounding ghost guns, as the weapon possessed by suspect Luigi Mangione.

On December 9, 2024, Luigi Mangione was arrested as a "strong person of interest" in the alleged murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, according to NBC News.

At the time of his arrest, the 26-year-old was found in possession of a "ghost gun"—an untraceable, homemade firearm. Law enforcement officials believe this weapon is similar to the one used in the alleged murder of Thompson on December 4, 2024.

According to NBC News, ghost guns refer to firearms that are assembled privately, often using kits or 3D-printed components, and lack serial numbers—making them virtually impossible to trace.

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Understanding ghost guns and their role in Brian Thompson's investigation

As mentioned, on Monday, December 9, 2024, Luigi Mangione was arrested under suspicion of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in early December 2024. At the time of his arrest, Mangione was found in possession of a ghost gun, bringing renewed attention to this growing concern.

According to NBC News, ghost guns are homemade firearms that individuals can assemble, eliminating the need for a licensed firearm. These weapons, which have been around since the 1990s, have gained notoriety in recent years, particularly among criminals.

Lacking serial numbers, ghost guns are extremely difficult to trace, as noted by the Department of Justice. According to their 2022 fact sheet, only 0.98% of suspected ghost guns submitted by law enforcement were linked to individual purchasers.

Between January 2016 and December 2021, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) received approximately 45,000 reports of suspected privately made firearms recovered during criminal investigations, including 692 homicides or attempted homicides.

The number of ghost guns recovered steadily increased over this period, from 1,758 in 2016 to 19,344 in 2021, according to the Justice Department.

Ghost gun components are readily available both locally and online, making it possible for almost anyone to assemble these untraceable firearms. In response to this growing issue, President Joe Biden announced restrictions in January 2022, requiring manufacturers of ghost gun kits to include serial numbers—

“These guns are the weapons of choice for many criminals. We are going to do everything we can to deprive them of that choice,” President Biden stated.

Additionally, gun safety advocates have been urging Congress to close loopholes and make these restrictions law. Over a dozen states have already passed laws regulating ghost guns.

According to CBS News, Luigi Mangione was arrested on Monday at a McDonald's in Altoona, Pennsylvania, as per New York Police Department Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny. According to Joseph Kenny, who told CBS that Mangione possessed a ghost gun that has the "capability of firing a 9mm round"—

"As of right now the information we're getting from Altoona is that the gun appears to be a ghost gun, may have been made on a 3D printer, with the capability of firing a 9mm round. Obviously, that will come out during our ballistics testing," Kenny said.

Furthermore, a law enforcement official told CBS News that police in the early investigation believed the suspect used a B&T Station SIX gun in the shooting. Due to which, the investigators visited gun dealers in Connecticut.

Also, the gun used in the crime had a long barrel and a unique appearance. In addition to the unusual weapon, police found the words "delay," "deny," and possibly "depose" on shell casings and bullets recovered from the crime scene, whose potential meaning remains unknown.

According to CBS News, Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was fatally shot on Wednesday, December 4, 2024, outside the New York Hilton Midtown in Manhattan, where the company was hosting an investor event.

Thompson, 50 years old at the time, was shot from behind and continued to be fired upon until he collapsed. The suspect then shot him in the chest and calf before fleeing the scene.