On December 4th, 2024, Luigi Mangione waited in the streets of New York City and carried out a cold-blooded assassination of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson. The targeted, premeditated attack shocked the public, sparking reactions across political lines.
But while the internet and mainstream media dove into social commentary, they also filled the airwaves with wild firearm inaccuracies.
Credit to Brandon Herrera (see video below) who cut through the noise and focused on the hardware—the firearm allegedly used in the assassination—and why so many experts got it so flamboyantly wrong.
Table of contents
The Assassin Gun Myth: B&T Station 6
Early media reports claimed that the assassination weapon was a B&T Station 6—a sleek, integrally suppressed single-shot pistol chambered in .45 ACP. Admittedly, it looks like something straight out of a spy movie, but anyone familiar with firearms could tell from the surveillance footage that this wasn’t the gun used.
The B&T Station 6 operates in a very specific way: the shooter must rotate, pull back, load a round, push forward, and rotate again. Surveillance footage showed Mangione manipulating a slide—not rotating and resetting after each shot. The mechanics simply didn’t match.
What Was Actually Used: A 3D-Printed Glock Hybrid
When Luigi Mangione was apprehended, authorities recovered the real weapon: a Glock 19 upper mounted on a 3D-printed frame. Specifically, it was based on the FMDA 19.2 Chairman Juan Remix model—a popular design in the 3D-printing firearm community.
SEE ALSO: Kimber’s Stainless II 1911: One Classy Shooter
The slide showed clear signs of malfunction, likely caused by the suppressor used. The suppressor, also likely 3D-printed, didn’t include a Nielsen device (a recoil booster). Without this device, semi-automatic handguns struggle to cycle properly when suppressed, often requiring manual slide manipulation between shots.
Debunking More Myths: Subsonic Ammo and Malfunctions
Another myth was that Mangione’s weapon malfunctioned because he was using subsonic ammunition, allegedly marking him as some sort of professional assassin. That’s nonsense. Subsonic .45 ACP cycles just fine in properly configured firearms with suppressors featuring Nielsen devices.
Mangione’s malfunctions came from the suppressor design, not the ammo choice.
The Fear-Mongering Around 3D Printing
The fact that the gun and suppressor were partially 3D-printed sent media outlets into a frenzy. Cue the predictable fear-mongering about “ghost guns” and the supposed dangers of unregulated printing technology.
But here’s the truth: homemade suppressors have existed for as long as suppressors themselves. Before 3D printing, DIY suppressors were often crafted from oil filters or improvised materials. Technology may have evolved, but the concept remains unchanged.
The real problem isn’t the tool—it’s ignorance. When people understand the technology, the fear subsides, and meaningful conversations about firearm policy can actually happen.
Final Thoughts
This case has been a perfect storm of misinformation, media frenzy, and misplaced blame on technology rather than the individual behind the trigger. But one thing remains clear: the firearm used wasn’t some Hollywood assassin pistol. It was a DIY Glock setup, with all the quirks and flaws that come with 3D-printed modifications.
As always, knowledge is power. The more people understand about firearms—how they work, how they malfunction, and what they’re capable of—the less room there is for fear-driven narratives.
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He used what the “justice system” wanted him to use. After all that planing are we really to think that he would still be packing around the murder weapon.
You would think with a name like Luigi Maggione he would know how to put togther a top rate assassination rig.
Wait
******************Disclaimer***************
I was just kidding, so your hurt feelings are irrelevant.
“When people understand the technology, the fear subsides, and meaningful conversations about firearm policy can actually happen.”
Sorry, I disagree. Certainly, some will feel that way, but for the most part, this conversation was fueled by the ‘ban all guns’ crowd, and they have no interest in “meaningful” conversations, they simply want to ban all guns.
They monger fear, but really aren’t all that afraid, they just don’t think you can be trusted with a gun, period.
This is particularly true of the Left Wing media.
Fact is subsonic ammo does sometimes makes a firearm malfunction with or without a nielson device regardless if its properly or not configured..i have seen too many times ! Only thing 100% is death
The various news media will always try to malign the gun used and pass along misinformation just to hype their own sales if for no other reason. I suspect they also do it because they have the backing of rich liberal oligarchs who see gun control laws as methods to increase their own personal power.
Article peddles misinformation in the name of debunking myths. The B&T Station 6 is 9x19mm Luger/Parabellum caliber, not “.45 ACP” as stated in this incorrect article… Was this AI generated, or did a person write this?
The B&T Station 6 is available in both 9mm AND .45ACP. Look at their website.
Have YOUR information correct before you “peddle” your Absent Intelligence
it’s Amazing just how LITTLE the Politicians and so called NEWS people know about Guns.
One would wonder why he didn’t just use a real Glock pistol since he still had it on his person.
Why do the pictures of the person on the street committing the crime not seem to match the person arrested? Look at their noses. They don’t appear to be the same profile. The clothing worn wasn’t an exact match. Something’s not right. And then, there’s this “manifesto.”