Luigi Mangione faces federal charges related to the murder of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson. A federal grand jury indicted the 26-year-old on April 17 on various charges, including two for stalking, one for murder using a firearm, and another related to allegedly using a silencer. This follows previous state indictments in New York and Pennsylvania. Mangione’s arrest occurred on December 9 at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, where authorities discovered a manifesto and a silencer in his possession. The incident leading to these charges took place outside the Hilton in Midtown Manhattan on December 4, 2024, resulting in the death of Thompson, who was 50 at the time.
The charge of murder with a firearm is particularly severe, carrying a potential death penalty. Attorney General Pam Bondi has expressed her intention to pursue this sentence, labeling the act as a “premeditated, cold-blooded assassination.” On the defense side, attorney Karen Friedman Agnifolo has announced plans to contest the death penalty, arguing that Bondi’s comments may have influenced the grand jury’s decision-making process.
This case has captured national attention, reflective of ongoing public discontent with the healthcare industry. Mangione, a University of Pennsylvania alumnus with both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in engineering and computer science, reportedly suffered from significant health issues, including a spinal column injury and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). Support for Mangione has been substantial, evidenced by over $900,000 in donations to his legal defense fund and numerous letters while he remains in custody at Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center.