A man, Luigi Mangione, accused of fatally shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on a Manhattan street earlier this month has been charged with murder, including second-degree murder as an act of terrorism, US authorities announced on Tuesday.
Luigi Mangione, 26, allegedly killed Thompson on December 4, causing a nationwide manhunt that ended when he was apprehended at a McDonald’s in Pennsylvania. Mangione, a former data engineer, is currently jailed in Pennsylvania as he contests extradition to New York to face the charges.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg detailed the charges, which include one count of first-degree murder, two counts of second-degree murder—one as an act of terrorism—and several weapons offences.
“This was not an ordinary killing,” Bragg said, explaining that the terrorism charge was justified under New York law because the attack was meant to evoke terror. If convicted, Mangione could face life in prison without parole.
Authorities revealed that Mangione used a 3D-printed ghost gun equipped with a suppressor to carry out the attack. “These weapons are increasingly proliferating throughout New York City and the entire country,” Bragg warned, adding that over 80 ghost guns or related parts were recovered in Manhattan last year alone.
According to police, Mangione travelled to New York on November 24 with the intent of targeting Thompson. On December 4, he waited outside Thompson’s hotel for nearly an hour before allegedly shooting him twice—once in the back and once in the leg.
Although Mangione reportedly suffered a life-altering back injury, police found no indication that he had been a client of UnitedHealthcare. A handwritten three-page manifesto criticising the US healthcare system was discovered in his possession at the time of his arrest.
The case has fueled debate online, with some social media users shockingly praising Mangione and calling for further attacks on corporate leaders. New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch condemned this reaction, calling it a shocking and appalling celebration of cold-blooded murder.
Mangione’s fingerprints and shell casings from the scene allegedly matched evidence found during his arrest. He is scheduled to appear in a Pennsylvania court on Thursday to determine his extradition to New York.
