The latest episode of Law & Order seems to have drawn inspiration from the real-life killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in December 2024. The episode, which aired on Thursday, March 20, centers around a character named Ethan, portrayed by actor Ty Molbak, who bears a resemblance to Luigi Mangione, the man accused of fatally shooting Thompson outside a Midtown Manhattan hotel.
In the episode, Ethan guns down the CEO of a fictional health insurance company on a Manhattan sidewalk before being pursued by detectives as he plans to target another insurance company CEO. A gun and a notebook outlining his intentions are found by investigators. This storyline mirrors the events surrounding Mangione, who was arrested days after the shooting with incriminating evidence including a “ghost gun,” fake IDs, and a letter detailing his grievances against the health insurance industry.
Both Mangione and Ethan garnered public sympathy, with supporters contributing to Mangione’s defense fund. The character of Ethan, much like Mangione, presents a complex moral dilemma that leaves the audience pondering the outcome as the trial in the episode concludes without a verdict.
Mangione, 26, has pleaded not guilty to charges of murder and terrorism and is currently incarcerated at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York.
