Luigi Mangione was indicted Tuesday on terrorism-related murder charges, nearly two weeks after the 26-year-old suspect was accused of gunning down UnitedHealthcare’s CEO on a Manhattan sidewalk.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg announced the first-degree murder charge for Mr. Mangione, who has been linked to the killing of UnitedHealthcare executive Brian Thompson, a 50-year-old father of two.
Mr. Bragg said the Dec. 4 slaying was “intended to cause shock and attention and intimidation.”
“This type of premeditated, targeted gun violence cannot and will not be tolerated, and my office has been working day in and day out to bring the defendant to justice,” the district attorney said.
Mr. Mangione, an Ivy League graduate who comes from a prominent Baltimore family, was already facing second-degree murder charges as well as various weapons charges in connection to Thompson’s slaying.
The suspect is currently being held in a Pennsylvania state prison following his capture last week at a McDonald’s in Altoona.
Authorities said they found the murder weapon, a fake ID he used in New York City and a manifesto referencing the killing when police first detained him. Investigators said they later matched his DNA with samples taken at the crime scene.
He is also facing weapons and forgery charges in Pennsylvania.
“Just a cold-blooded, horrible killing,” President-elect Donald Trump said at a news conference Monday. “It’s really terrible that some people seem to admire him, like him.”
Mr. Mangione has become a cult-like figure in some activist circles who view the healthcare industry as predatory and unsupportive of people needing treatment.
Three bullet casings found at the scene of Thompson’s killing had the words “deny,” “defend” and “depose” written on them, in what is thought of as a reference to common phrases insurance companies use to refuse claims.
An online fundraiser has raised more than $140,000 to support Mr. Mangione’s coming legal fight in Manhattan.
The suspect returns to court Thursday in Pennsylvania, where he is expected to waive his extradition.
• Matt Delaney can be reached at mdelaney@washingtontimes.com.
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