U.S. seeks death penalty for Luigi Mangione in UnitedHealthCare CEO murder: “Make America safe again”
Mangione, 26, faces federal and state murder charges linked to the high-profile killing, shocked the business community and strengthened criticism of the health insurance industry.
As the Associated Press reported, the federal indictment includes murder charges filed through the use of a firearm that brings the possibility of a death penalty. The state’s charges are expected to be tried first, with a maximum sentence of prison.
What did Pam Bondi say?
“Luigi Mangione, the murder of an innocent man and father of two young children, was a premeditated, cold-blooded assassin that shocked the United States,” Bondy said in a statement.
“After careful consideration, I directed federal prosecutors to seek death penalty in this case as we execute President Trump’s agenda to stop violent crimes and keep the United States safe again,” the statement added.
How did Mangione catch it?
Mangione was arrested on December 9 at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, five days after allegedly shooting Thompson outside New York Hilton Midtown. As The Guardian reported, prosecutors said he was found to have a gun matching the weapon of murder and a false identity card. “The goal is insurance,” wrote an entry starting in August 2024, while another entry in October details a plan to “kill” the CEO of an insurer. Sulveillance video shows the gunman fled the crime scene on his bicycle and disappeared into Central Park before Mangione’s arrest. He pleaded not guilty to state charges and has not yet filed a plead guilty in a federal case.
Why is Brian Thompson the target?
Thompson, 50, was attending an investor meeting when he was ambushed and shot. UnitedHealthCare, the largest health insurance company in the United States, confirmed that Mangione has never been a customer.
The case also attracted political attention. U.S. President Donald Trump, who resumed his post in January, signed an executive order on the first day to restore the federal death penalty, the Guardian reported. This reversed the pause from his predecessor, Joe Biden.
Mangione’s defense team has not commented on the decision to seek the death penalty. According to The Guardian, his legal fees were supported by approximately $775,000 raised on the Givesendgo platform, a campaign hosted by a group called the December 4 Law Commission.
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