International

Luigi Mangione Charged With Murder Of UnitedHealthcare CEO

Published

6 hours ago

Dec 20, 2024.

Dennis

The case against Luigi Mangione intensified on Thursday as federal prosecutors filed four criminal charges against him, including one carrying the possibility of the death penalty.

Mangione, accused of murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson earlier this month, was extradited from Pennsylvania to New York and arrived in Manhattan by helicopter under heavy security. Wearing an orange jumpsuit and handcuffs, he was escorted past cameras and journalists before being taken to court.

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The 26-year-old suspect, who remains in custody without a bail application from his defense team, appeared at a 15-minute federal hearing where the charges were formally read. He faces two counts of stalking, a firearms offense, and murder through use of a firearm—a charge that makes him eligible for the death penalty.

The courtroom was filled with reporters, spectators, and court officials. Outside, small groups of protesters expressed support for Mangione, holding signs like “Luigi freed us.”

Experts have noted the extraordinary level of security provided for Mangione, akin to the protection offered to high-profile diplomats. Felipe Rodriguez, a former NYPD detective sergeant, described the measures as “extreme protective executive protection” or “protecting the package.” New York Mayor Eric Adams was among the officials present when Mangione’s helicopter landed in Manhattan.

Earlier in the day, Mangione attended an extradition hearing in Pennsylvania, where he was initially arrested on December 9. After the hearing, he was transported to New York via plane, arriving on Long Island before being transferred to Manhattan.

Mangione’s arrest occurred at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, where he was found in possession of a fake ID, a so-called “ghost gun” (a firearm assembled from untraceable parts), a passport, and a handwritten document reportedly outlining his motives.

During Thursday’s hearing in New York, Mangione appeared in a blue sweater and khaki pants with his feet shackled. He sat between his lawyers, Karen Friedman Agnifilo and Mark Agnifilo, the latter of whom is also representing rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs in a separate case.

As Magistrate Judge Katherine Parker read Mangione his rights and the charges against him, he nodded along silently. Ms. Agnifilo raised concerns about the complexity of the overlapping federal and state cases, describing them as “highly unusual” in her 30 years of legal practice.

Mangione also faces state charges in New York, including first-degree murder in furtherance of terrorism. Evidence presented to a grand jury last week included his fingerprints matching those found at the crime scene, according to NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch.

Prosecutors allege that Mangione arrived in New York City on November 24, using a fake ID to stay in a Manhattan hostel. Ten days later, he allegedly carried out the fatal attack on Thompson.

Mangione is currently being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn as the case against him continues to unfold.