Luigi Mangione has been indicted on federal charges in New York concerning the shooting death of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson. The charges include murder through the use of a firearm, which makes Mangione eligible for the death penalty if convicted.
The federal grand jury also charged Mangione with stalking and using a silencer in connection with the daylight killing of Thompson, which occurred in Manhattan last December as Thompson was headed to an investors conference. Mangione was apprehended in Altoona, Pennsylvania, five days following the shooting, concluding a manhunt.
In addition to federal charges, Mangione faces state murder charges, to which he has pleaded not guilty. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has announced the decision to pursue the death penalty, citing the murder as a premeditated act that shocked the nation. Bondi emphasized the move aligns with efforts to curb violent crime.
Mangione’s defense team criticized the decision as a “political stunt” and has filed a motion to prevent the death penalty from being considered in the case.