Luigi Mangione, 26, accused of fatally shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, is being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. Notably, the facility also houses music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs.
Mangione appeared in Manhattan federal court on Thursday after waiving extradition from Pennsylvania, where he was apprehended following a five-day manhunt. He faces four federal charges, including stalking, a firearms offense involving a silencer, and murder with a firearm—a charge that could result in the death penalty.
According to federal prosecutors, Mangione targeted Thompson due to hostility towards the health insurance industry and wealthy executives. Authorities recovered a notebook from Mangione that outlined his weeks-long planning.
An entry dated Aug. 15, 2024, read: “The details are finally coming together. I'm glad — in a way — that I've procrastinated, because it allowed me to learn more about [the target company].” Another entry from Oct. 22 described an investor conference as a “true windfall” and expressed plans to “wack” a CEO to send a pointed message.
Mangione allegedly carried out his plan on Dec. 4 outside a Manhattan hotel, ambushing and fatally shooting Thompson as he headed to an investor conference.
Mangione was apprehended on Dec. 9 at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, carrying a 9mm handgun with a 3D-printed receiver, a homemade silencer, ammunition, fake IDs, a passport, and $10,000 in cash.
Prosecutors have noted that Mangione’s writings, as well as the weaponry in his possession, demonstrate clear intent to commit the crime.
In his initial appearance before Magistrate Judge Katharine Parker, Mangione answered procedural questions but did not enter a plea. His defense attorney, Karen Friedman Agnifilo, criticized the abrupt federal charges, citing conflicts between federal and state case theories.
“The state case alleges Mangione terrorized a group of people, while the federal case focuses on stalking an individual,” Agnifilo said.
Mangione’s next federal court appearance is scheduled for Jan. 18, 2025, unless an indictment is filed earlier. A parallel case by the Manhattan District Attorney’s office is also ongoing.
Mangione, an Ivy League graduate, allegedly acted out of personal animosity towards the health insurance industry. Authorities claim he traveled from Georgia to New York with the intent to target Thompson.
The case has sparked widespread attention due to its high-profile victim and the calculated nature of the crime, as revealed by Mangione’s writings and preparation. Federal and state authorities continue to collaborate as the investigation progresses.
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