UnitedHealth Executive Murder Suspect Faces Federal Murder And Terror Charges

Luigi Mangione, 26, is the suspect in the fatal shooting of UnitedHealth Group executive Brian Thompson. He faces federal murder and stalking charges, in addition to state murder and terrorism charges announced earlier by New York prosecutors. Federal authorities filed the charges on Thursday, including allegations of using a firearm in the murder, stalking, and possessing an illegal gun silencer.

Mangione was finally caught in Altoona, Pennsylvania, on December 9 after a five-day manhunt since the assassination of Thompson outside a Manhattan hotel. According to police, Thompson was gunned down just before he was scheduled to hold his company conference. Police deemed it a premeditated attack. Mangione has reportedly spent months plotting to assassinate the target following a notebook found upon his arrest detailing his grievances towards the health insurance industry as well as corporate executives. The notebook contained entries, one from October 22, which included plans to attack a CEO at an investor conference.

According to the federal complaint, Mangione had also written a letter, claiming he acted alone and used “social engineering” and “basic CAD” techniques in planning the murder. Earlier this week, a New York grand jury indicted Mangione on charges including first-degree murder and terrorism. He is currently in custody and has not entered a plea. His attorney, Karen Friedman Agnifilo, has argued that Mangione has been “overcharged” and intends to fight the charges.

Prosecutors are also pushing forward with federal charges against him, which could result in a death penalty conviction because the state of New York does not enforce the death penalty. Further, police found at his arrest in Pennsylvania that he was carrying a 9mm handgun self-assembled and a homemade silencer. Mangione received new forgery and weapon carry charges in Pennsylvania, the reports say.

He is due to make an initial appearance in Manhattan court later Thursday.