Luigi Mangione, the suspect in the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, was charged in Manhattan federal court on Thursday with multiple offenses, including murder, stalking, and firearms violations. This comes after a grand jury in New York indicted him for the same crime earlier this week.
The federal criminal complaint, unsealed on Thursday, accuses Mangione of using a firearm to kill Thompson and stalking the victim across state lines. Mangione is also charged with transporting a firearm and using interstate facilities for the crime. Prosecutors allege that Mangione’s actions were carefully planned and executed, with evidence tying him directly to the killing.
The complaint reveals that Mangione was found in possession of several items that linked him to the crime. Among the evidence were a loaded 9mm pistol with a silencer, clothing matching the shooter’s attire captured on security footage, and a notebook containing hostile writings towards the insurance industry, specifically UnitedHealthcare. One entry in the notebook from August 2023 described how Mangione had studied the company, calling it a suitable target for his violent plan.
In addition to the notebook, Mangione allegedly sent a letter to federal authorities in which he claimed to have acted alone and self-funded the attack, boasting of his ability to evade detection through "basic CAD" and "social engineering."
Federal authorities have pieced together Mangione’s movements from late November to the day of the murder on December 4. Surveillance footage shows that he traveled from Atlanta, Georgia, to New York City, where he stayed near the location of the murder under a false name. On the day of the killing, Mangione allegedly left his hostel early in the morning, purchased items from a nearby coffee shop, and waited for Thompson’s arrival at a midtown hotel.
At around 6:45 am, Mangione is said to have approached Thompson, shot him multiple times, and fled the scene on foot, later switching to an electric bike and taxi. He was arrested in Pennsylvania on December 9 after a five-day manhunt, where authorities discovered he was carrying the same gun used in the murder, along with fake IDs and a passport.
Mangione’s arrest was followed by federal and state charges in New York, where he appeared in court for the first time on Thursday. Wearing an orange jumpsuit and handcuffed, he waived his preliminary hearing on the Pennsylvania charges and agreed to be extradited to New York. His defense lawyer stated that Mangione intended to vigorously contest the charges. The federal case, alongside the state charges, will proceed in the coming weeks.
Mangione is also facing additional charges in Pennsylvania related to the murder and his fugitive status. His next court appearance in New York will involve entering a plea to the federal charges.
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