Luigi Mangione pleaded “not guilty” in a Manhattan court on Monday, where he faces state murder and terrorism charges in the shooting death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. The arraignment follows formal charges filed by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg accusing Mangione of multiple forms of murder, including murder as an act of terrorism.
The state case is set to proceed alongside a separate federal prosecution—with the latter potentially resulting in Mangione receiving the death penalty. However, Mangione only faces life imprisonment without parole in the state prosecution as New York abolished its death penalty in 2004.
Mangione allegedly executed Thompson in midtown Manhattan on December 4, as the CEO was en route to an investor conference. Following a five-day search, law enforcement apprehended Mangione at a McDonald’s in Pennsylvania. He possessed a gun matching the weapon used in the shooting, along with a fake ID and a notebook detailing grievances against the health insurance industry.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg highlighted the murder’s intent to cause fear and garner attention to justify the use of terrorism charges. Meanwhile, Mangione’s lawyer, Karen Friedman Agnifilo, criticized the differing legal approaches by federal and state prosecutors, describing them as “confusing” and “highly unusual.”
Mangione, held at a Brooklyn federal jail, was extradited from Pennsylvania and brought to New York City with heavy security. Additionally, New York Mayor Eric Adams personally confronted Mangione, emphasizing the impact of his actions on the city.
An Ivy League graduate from Maryland, Mangione reportedly became isolated from his family and friends over the last year. Online posts attributed to him suggest personal struggles, particularly with back pain. There is no record of him being a UnitedHealthcare client.
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