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By Jon Jackson and Matthew Impelli
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What's New
Luigi Mangione, the alleged killer of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, has been charged with murder as an act of terrorism, prosecutors in New York announced Tuesday.
Mangione was already facing a second-degree murder charge for the December 4 fatal shooting of Thompson. The new charge, under New York law, can be brought if the alleged crime is "intended to intimidate or coerce a civilian population, influence the policies of a unit of government by intimidation or coercion and affect the conduct of a unit of government by murder, assassination or kidnapping."
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Mangione's attorney in New York has not yet commented on the case.
Why It Matters
The new charge reflects the alleged intent behind the apparent assassination by a man accused of being in possession of a manifesto which stated he was on a crusade against the U.S. health care system in general and UnitedHealthcare in particular. It also flags up the seriousness prosecutors regard such an attack, especially in the context of Mangione becoming a folk hero to some people, who might praise him online for "taking a stand."
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What To Know
Mangione was taken into custody last week as the main suspect in the fatal shooting of 50-year-old father of two Thompson, killed in midtown Manhattan while walking into an investors' meeting at a Hilton hotel.
Following his arrest at a McDonald's in Altoona, Pennsylvania, about 275 miles from New York City, 26-year-old Mangione was charged with gun and forgery offenses and is being held without bail. Mangione's Pennsylvania attorney has challenged the evidence behind the forgery charge and questioned the legal basis for the gun charge, adding that Mangione intends to fight extradition to New York.
Mangione has two court appearances scheduled for Thursday in Pennsylvania, including an extradition hearing, according to Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.
Just hours after Mangione's arrest, Bragg's office filed initial charges against him, including murder and other offenses. The latest indictment now expands on those earlier allegations.
Investigators believe Mangione, an Ivy League-educated computer science graduate from a well-known Maryland family, was driven by anger toward the U.S. health care system.
According to a law enforcement bulletin obtained by The Associated Press, Mangione was carrying a handwritten letter at the time of his arrest describing health insurance companies as "parasitic" and criticizing corporate greed.
What People Are Saying
"This was a frightening, well planned, targeted murder that was intended to cause shock and attention and intimidation," Alvin Bragg said at a news conference Tuesday. "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."
What's Next
Mangione was originally scheduled to reappear in Pennsylvania court on December 23, but court documents indicate the hearing has been rescheduled to December 19.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.
Update 12/17/24 5:00 p.m. EST: This story has been updated with further information.
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