CEO of UnitedHealthcare Killed: Luigi Mangione, Suspect Faces Terrorism Charges
International News Department 18-12-2024
Luigi Mangione, a 26-year-old accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, now faces an additional charge of murder classified as an act of terrorism. The indictment, announced by a Manhattan grand jury, comes on top of existing murder charges stemming from the December 4 shooting in New York City.
“This deliberate and alarming attack was designed to instill fear and draw attention,” Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg stated during a press briefing. “It disrupted the lives of residents, commuters, and tourists in one of the busiest areas of the city.”
Mangione’s defense attorney, Karen Friedman Agnifilo, has not commented on the new charge.
Under New York law, a terrorism charge applies when an act aims to intimidate or coerce the public, influence government policies, or disrupt government activities through actions such as murder or kidnapping.
Thompson, 50, was fatally shot while walking to a Manhattan hotel hosting an investor conference for UnitedHealthcare, one of the largest health insurance providers in the U.S.
Mangione was apprehended on December 9 in Pennsylvania after a McDonald’s employee tipped off authorities. At the time of his arrest, police recovered a 3D-printed gun, a suppressor, and fake IDs, including one allegedly used to check into a hostel prior to the crime.
During a court appearance in Pennsylvania, Mangione made an unclear statement about “an insult to the intelligence of the American people.” His lawyer, Thomas Dickey, has contested extradition to New York, where Mangione remains in custody without bail.
The murder has drawn nationwide attention due to its shocking nature and suggested motive. Bullet casings at the crime scene were inscribed with words such as “deny,” “defend,” and “depose”—terms often used by critics of health insurers accused of withholding claim payouts.
According to law enforcement documents based on Mangione’s writings, his actions appear to have been driven by anger towards the healthcare industry, which he described as “parasitic” and dominated by corporate greed. Mangione criticized the high costs of healthcare in the U.S., where rising corporate profits contrast with stagnant life expectancy.
Thompson, a 50-year-old Iowa native, had worked at UnitedHealth Group for 20 years and became CEO of its insurance division in 2021. He was a married father of two and trained as an accountant.
Mangione, meanwhile, hails from a prominent Baltimore family. He graduated as valedictorian from an elite prep school and later earned advanced degrees in computer science from the University of Pennsylvania. Friends have described a shift in his behavior following recent spinal surgery.
In a statement posted by his cousin, Delaware state legislator Nino Mangione, the family expressed shock and offered condolences to Thompson’s family, requesting prayers for everyone involved.
This tragic incident highlights growing public frustration with the healthcare system, which many view as inequitable and profit-driven.
