Luigi Mangione, the 26-year-old accused of murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson last year, has been indicted on federal charges, including two counts of stalking, a firearms offense, and murder using a firearm, a charge that makes him eligible for the death penalty if convicted.
The murder took place on December 4, 2024, when Thompson was walking on a sidewalk in Manhattan toward a hotel for an investor conference. The killing quickly became a national story, not just because of the high-profile victim but also due to the anger many people feel toward the U.S. healthcare system and large insurance companies.
Although the crime occurred in New York, a state without the death penalty, the Justice Department has stepped in to pursue federal charges. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has made it clear that the DOJ is determined to seek the death penalty.
Mangione has already pleaded not guilty to state charges of murder and terrorism in New York, but his defense attorney, Karen Friedman Agnifilo, has wasted no time challenging the federal charges.
“We are prepared to fight these federal charges, brought by a lawless Justice Department, as well as the New York State charges, and the Pennsylvania charges, and anything else they want to pile on Luigi,” she said in response to the death penalty announcement.
In addition to his original defense team, Mangione recently added Avraham Moskowitz, a lawyer with extensive experience in death penalty cases. Moskowitz has represented over 50 clients charged with crimes that could lead to the death penalty in New York.
While Mangione faces federal charges, his case will go to state court first. A Manhattan grand jury has indicted him on 11 counts, including first-degree and second-degree murder, as well as weapons and forgery charges. If convicted on the state charges, Mangione could face life in prison without the possibility of parole.
The first-degree murder charge includes an accusation that Mangione killed Thompson as part of an act of terrorism, meaning he allegedly intended to intimidate or coerce the public or a government entity. One of the second-degree charges also accuses Mangione of committing murder as a “crime of terrorism.”
In addition to the charges in New York, Mangione is also facing charges in Pennsylvania. After being on the run for a week, he was arrested in a McDonald’s in Pennsylvania. Law enforcement found a “ghost gun” and a notebook with writings suggesting that Mangione had been stalking Thompson and planning the murder for some time.
The murder and the subsequent dayslong manhunt have captivated the public, as authorities shared details of Mangione’s writings and the messages found on bullets at the crime scene. The case has become a symbol of not only the violence against high-profile figures but also the anger brewing within the public over the healthcare system and corporate greed.
Mangione is currently being held in federal custody in Brooklyn, New York. His case will continue to unfold in the coming months, with both the state and federal charges against him making this one of the most high-profile criminal cases in recent memory. The pursuit of the death penalty in this case makes it clear that the DOJ is treating the murder as a particularly egregious crime, signaling the seriousness with which they are addressing it.
