Mangione is accused of committing an “act of terrorism” in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Crime news

Luigi Mangione, The accused is 26 years old The shooting death of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York earlier this month has been charged with murder “as an act of terrorism.”

A grand jury indicted Mangione on an additional murder charge on Tuesday, according to New York prosecutors who had already charged him with murder in the Dec. 4 killing.

“This was a chilling, well-planned and targeted murder that was intended to shock, interest and intimidate,” Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said at a news conference. He added: “The accident occurred in one of the busiest areas of our city, and threatened the safety of local residents and tourists alike, and commuters and businessmen just starting their day.”

Mangione’s defense attorney in New York, Karen Friedman Agnifilo, did not immediately comment on the new charge.

Under New York law, terrorism can be charged when the alleged crime is “intended to intimidate or coerce a civilian population, influence the policies of a governmental unit by intimidation or coercion, and influence the conduct of a governmental unit by killing.” Assassination or kidnapping.”

Thompson, 50, was shot and killed while on his way to a Manhattan hotel where UnitedHealthcare, one of the largest health insurance companies in the United States, was holding an investor conference.

He was arrested on secret information

After a long manhunt, Mangione was arrested on December 9 in Pennsylvania after a tip-off from a McDonald’s employee.

Authorities said a 3D-printed gun, a silencer, and several fake IDs were found, including one the attacker is believed to have used to check into a New York motel before the shooting. When Mangione recovered He was arrested.

Before entering court last week in shackles, Mangione addressed reporters with a somewhat incomprehensible message, in which he could be heard referring to “an insult to the intelligence of the American people.”

At the brief hearing, his defense attorney, Thomas Dickey, told the court that Mangione would challenge his extradition to New York, and requested a hearing on the issue. He remains in custody in Pennsylvania without bail.

While in court, Mangione wore an orange prison jumpsuit and alternated between staring forward, looking at papers, and looking back at the gallery. His lawyer silenced him at one point when he tried to speak.

the Insolent nature The murder and the apparent motive sparked a national conspiracy. Even while condemning the violence, many experts, doctors and American citizens said it was a symbol of the country’s underlying tide of anger toward the health care industry, where high costs make many patients vulnerable to the will of insurance companies.

Bullet casings found at the scene of the killing bore the words “deny,” “defend” and “isolate,” appearing to refer to a phrase critics use to describe how health insurance companies avoid paying claims. The gunman fled on an electric bicycle to Central Park, then took a bus out of the city.

“parasite”

In the days following the attack, many did so It was taken to social media To share the accounts of insurance companies that reject claims.

The law enforcement memo, which was based on Mangione’s writings, some of which were found at the time of his arrest, said Mangione was likely motivated by what he described as “parasitic” health insurance companies and a disdain for corporate greed in general.

According to the memo, Mangione wrote that the United States has the most expensive health care system in the world and that the profits of major corporations continue to rise while “our average life expectancy” does not.

Thompson, who grew up on a farm in a small town in Iowa, was trained as an accountant. A married father of two high school seniors, he has worked at conglomerate giant UnitedHealth Group for 20 years and became CEO of its insurance arm in 2021.

Mangione came from an influential family in Baltimore, Maryland, and was valedictorian of the elite Baltimore prep school. He earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees in computer science in 2020 from the University of Pennsylvania, a prestigious Ivy League school.

Some friends, who are known to be gentle and intelligent, said in interviews with American media that Mangione’s behavior changed after his recent spinal surgery.

“Our family is shocked and devastated by Luigi’s arrest,” Mangione’s family said in a statement posted on social media late Monday by his cousin, Delaware state legislator Nino Mangione.

“We offer our prayers to Brian Thompson’s family, and ask people to pray for everyone involved.”