NEW YORK — Luigi Mangione, 26, has been indicted for the murder of UnitedHealth Group executive Brian Thompson, a crime that prosecutors say was intended to “sow terror” and intimidate. On December 17, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg announced that a grand jury had charged Mangione with 11 counts, including first-degree murder and murder as a crime of terrorism. Mangione faces life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted on all charges.
The indictment follows the December 9 killing of Thompson, which occurred outside a Manhattan hotel during a company conference. Mangione allegedly carried out the well-planned, targeted shooting as part of an effort to provoke shock and fear. Bragg described the murder as an act of terror designed to “influence the policy of a unit of government by intimidation or coercion.”
Mangione was apprehended after a five-day manhunt in Pennsylvania, where he was initially held on gun charges. A hearing to determine his extradition to New York is set for December 18. He is currently in custody and has yet to enter a plea. His defense attorney, Karen Friedman Agnifilo, declined to comment.
The killing has drawn widespread outrage, particularly in the context of growing anger over the U.S. healthcare system’s rising costs. At the murder scene, investigators found shell casings inscribed with words like “deny,” “defend,” and “depose,” references to a book critical of the insurance industry, sparking further speculation about Mangione’s motive.
While Mangione has gained some support, including over a thousand donations for his legal defense, New York police commissioner Jessica Tisch condemned any attempt to rationalize the crime. “There is no heroism in what Mangione did,” she said.
Authorities noted that Mangione had struggled with chronic back pain, but it remains unclear if his health issues influenced his actions. UnitedHealth Group stated that Mangione was not a customer of the insurer.