Luigi Mangione is indicted for U.S. federal murder for killing the CEO of UnitedHealthcare.
Luigi Mangione was indicted on Thursday for federal murder to kill UN Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson, an order that “shocks the United States and shocks the United States” when prosecutors work hard to treat the Trump administration’s orders and orders to the death penalty.
The indictment of Mangione, returned by the Manhattan federal grand jury, includes charges of murder by using a gun that brings the possibility of death penalty. The indictment reflects a criminal lawsuit filed after Mangione's arrest in December, which also accused him of stalking and guns.
His lawyer argued that U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced this month that he ordered prosecutors to seek the death penalty, a “political stunt” that undermined the grand jury process and deprived him of his constitutional rights.
The 26-year-old Ivy League graduate from a prominent Maryland real estate family, authorities said he shot Thompson, 50, outside a Manhattan hotel, and the company shot Thompson, 50, on December 4.
Surveillance video shows a masked gunman shooting Thompson from behind. Police said the words “delay,” “denied” and “depose” were scratched on ammunition, mimicking phrases commonly used to describe insurance companies avoiding paying claims.
The murder and the subsequent five-day search resulted in Mangione’s arrest shocking the business community, with some health insurers removing photos of executives from their websites and switching to online shareholder meetings. Meanwhile, some health insurance critics gathered around Mangione, which was a frustration over the denial and huge medical expenses.
Quick deadline
Mangione's federal indictment filed a lawsuit before Friday's deadline, seeking a lawsuit or seeking delays. It is not clear when he was taken to the federal court in Manhattan for arraignment.
A group of people, many supporters flocked to New York City Court, Luigi Mangione pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder and terrorism in the death of United Health Care CEO Brian Thompson.
The news of seeking comments was left to a spokesperson for the defense team of Mangione.
Bondi announced on April 1 that she directed federal prosecutors in Manhattan to sentence Mangione to death. This is the first time since President Donald Trump returned to office on January 20, vowing to resume federal executions after a cessation under the previous administration.
In the announcement, Bundy described Thompson's killings as “acts of political violence.”
“The U.S. government intends to kill Mr. Mangione as a political stunt,” she hopes prosecutors are blocked from seeking the death penalty.
Friedman Agnifilo and her co-advisor believe that Bondi's announcement (subsequently her Instagram account and her TV appearance) violated long-standing Justice Department procedures and “biased” the grand jury process that ultimately ruled his indictment.
Mangione is still in federal prison in Brooklyn. His state charges punished life in prison to the greatest extent possible.
Prosecutors said the two cases will take place on parallel tracks and the state's case is expected to be tried first.
It is not clear whether Mangione’s lawsuit will change the order on Thursday.
Mangione was arrested on December 9 in Altoona, Pennsylvania, about 370 kilometers west of New York City, and headed to Manhattan by plane and helicopter.
Police said Mangione's pistol matched the one used in the shooting, as well as other notebooks, in which they said he expressed hostility to the health insurance industry and wealthy executives.
Prosecutors said that one of these entries said “the goal is insurance” from August 2024 because “it checks every box”, while one from October describes the intent of the insurer CEO. UnitedHealthcare, the largest health insurance company in the United States, said Mangione was never a customer.
Friedman Agnifilo said she would seek to suppress some evidence.
