Luigi Mangione Charged with First-Degree Murder in Targeted Killing of Healthcare CEO

Luigi Mangione faces multiple charges, including first-degree murder, following the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, the New York District Attorney’s office announced on Tuesday. The charges also include two counts of second-degree murder, with one count describing the crime as an act of “terrorism.”

DA Alvin Bragg emphasized the calculated nature of the crime, calling it a “frightening, well-planned, and targeted murder” intended to “sow terror.” Mangione is expected to appear in court on December 19 for a hearing regarding his extradition to New York. Bragg indicated Mangione might waive the hearing, expediting the process. This date coincides with Mangione’s preliminary hearing for separate gun-related charges in Pennsylvania.

Mangione, 26, was arrested five days after the December 4 shooting at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania. Police reported he was found with a “ghost gun,” a fake ID, a passport, and a handwritten note allegedly outlining his “motivation and mindset.” The untraceable firearm, built from parts, is central to the investigation. However, Mangione’s lawyer, Thomas Dickey, has stated he has yet to see definitive evidence linking the weapon to the crime.

New York prosecutors began presenting evidence to a grand jury last week, including fingerprints recovered at the crime scene, which reportedly match Mangione’s. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch condemned the public’s reaction to the case, saying, “In the nearly two weeks since Mr. Thompson’s killing, we have seen a shocking and appalling celebration of cold-blooded murder. We do not lionize the killing of anyone.”

Mangione is currently held under maximum security at the Huntingdon State Correctional Institution in Pennsylvania, where he has been denied bail. If extradited, he will likely be transferred to Rikers Island or another high-security New York facility to await trial.