Luigi Mangione has been indicted for the first-degree murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson and now faces charges of “murder as an act of terrorism,” prosecutors revealed on Tuesday. The tech worker rose to global infamy, after being arrested in a McDonald’s for the alleged premeditated murder of the health insurance boss on the streets of New York.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul is supporting a scheme to extradite Mangione, 26, from a Pennsylvania prison to face trial in the city where he carried out the “brazen” shooting of the health insurance boss in broad daylight. Authorities are now also trying him on terrorism charges, which could see him facing life in prison.
Originally charged with second-degree murder in Pennsylvania, Mangione now faces upgraded charges including one count of first-degree murder and two counts of second-degree murder, with one of these counts being classified as an act of terrorism. At a press briefing this afternoon, officials described the killing as a “frightening, well-planned murder” while announcing the new charges.
READ MORE: Family of Brit gran fighting for life after being struck down with Covid in US give update
Under New York legislation, a charge of terrorism can be applied when a crime is committed with the intention to intimidate or coerce civilians, influence government policy through intimidation, or disrupt government conduct by means of murder, assassination, or kidnapping. The District Attorney highlighted that Mangione could be sentenced to life without parole if convicted of the murder charges.
“This was a frightening, well-planned, targeted murder that was intended to cause shock and attention and intimidation,” Bragg said at a press conference. “It occurred in one of the most bustling parts of our city, threatened the safety of local residents and tourists alike, commuters and businesspeople just starting out on their day.”
He described the alleged killing as “brazen” and “pre-meditated”, revealing that Mangione used a 3D printed ‘ghost gun’ and silencer when murdering Thompson, reports the Mirror US. Mangione’s New York lawyer provided no statement about the development in the case.
Officials are taking steps to have Mangione extradited from Pennsylvania—where he was apprehended on unrelated weapons offences—to New York City, to formally face the charges for the death of the 50 year old health executive, with a hearing scheduled for this Thursday.
A representative for Governor Kathy Hochul declared that the governor is prepared to sign an extradition warrant to New York as soon as Mangione’s indictment is submitted.
The defence team for Mangione has signalled his intention to enter a plea of not guilty to the accusations in both Pennsylvania and New York. Should Mangione be found guilty in New York, he could receive a sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
David Shapiro, a John Jay College of Criminal Justice lecturer, outlined that if evidence points to Mangione plotting the attack months before it happened, the charge might be raised to first-degree murder due to a potential terrorism aspect.
“Terrorism is defined, basically, as creating, intimidating the civilian population or influencing a government unit to act in a certain way,” Shapiro explained. He continued, “You can easily imagine a set of facts where Mangione was attempting to do the same or did the same. I’m sure there are a host of insurance company executives that are afraid of copycats.”
Mangione is currently housed in SCI Huntingdon, close to the Blair County Courthouse, where he is up against a barrage of charges including possession of an unlicensed firearm, forgery, and providing false identification to law enforcement—all in addition to the fresh first-degree terrorism charge levelled at him by New York authorities.
Mangione, 26, who is an Ivy League alumnus, stands accused of gunning down Thompson, aged 50, on December 4. The incident occurred as Thompson headed towards a Manhattan hotel hosting an event for UnitedHealthcare, which is the leading medical insurer in the US.
The assailant, concealed behind a mask, managed to slip away using a Citibike, navigating through Central Park and subsequently boarding a bus.
After his elusive escape caused rampant conjecture, he was eventually apprehended days later, tucking into hash browns at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania. Officers from the New York police force have indicated that Mangione had in his possession the firearm believed to be used in the killing of Thompson, a passport, and various bogus IDs.
This included an ID that the alleged gunman presented upon checking into a New York hostel, just before being intercepted by the police.
Mangione was initially arrested on charges of gun possession and forgery in Pennsylvania, but as the investigation unfolded, more serious charges were added to his rap sheet. These included a ‘manifesto’, other writings and rantings, and matches for fingerprints and bullets.
Mangione’s lawyer in Pennsylvania has cast doubt on the evidence supporting the forgery charge and questioned the legal basis for the gun charge. The lawyer also stated that Mangione would resist extradition to New York.
Shortly after his arrest, the Manhattan district attorney’s office filed documents charging him with murder, among other offences, which the indictment further substantiates.