December 17th 2024.
According to prosecutors, the man accused of killing UnitedHealthcare's CEO has now been charged with murder as an act of terrorism. This morning, they announced their plans to bring him from a Pennsylvania jail to a New York court to face the charges. This comes after the initial murder charge against Luigi Mangione for the December 4th killing of Brian Thompson.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg spoke at a news conference, stating that Thompson's death on a bustling Manhattan street was not just a killing, but an act of terror. He mentioned the fear and shock that has spread as a result of this targeted and well-planned murder.
Bragg continued, expressing concern for the safety of residents, tourists, commuters, and businesspeople in the area where the killing took place. Karen Friedman Agnifilo, Mangione's lawyer in New York, declined to comment on the matter.
Thompson, a 50-year-old businessman, was shot while walking to a hotel where UnitedHealthcare was holding an investor conference. The incident sparked a wave of resentment towards US health insurance companies, as many Americans shared their frustrations with being denied coverage and left with large medical bills.
The shooting also caused alarm among other health care executives, as posters with their names and faces appeared on the streets of New York. Police even warned of a potential threat due to the online vitriol directed towards these individuals.
In this case, prosecutors are utilizing a law passed after the September 11th attacks that allows them to charge crimes as acts of terrorism. This is when the intention is to intimidate or coerce a civilian population, influence government policies, or affect government conduct through murder, assassination, or kidnapping. This law has been used in various contexts in the past.
The first instance was in 2002, when a gang member in the Bronx was charged with the murder of a 10-year-old girl and the paralysis of a man during a christening party. However, the state's highest court later ruled that this did not meet the criteria for terrorism, resulting in a new trial and conviction for attempted murder and manslaughter.
In Mangione's case, he was eventually found and arrested at a McDonald's in Pennsylvania. He was found with the gun used to kill Thompson, as well as a passport and fake IDs, including one used to check into a New York hostel. He has been charged with gun and forgery offenses in Pennsylvania and is currently being held without bail.
Mangione's lawyer in Pennsylvania has raised questions about the evidence for the forgery charge and the legal basis for the gun charge. They have also stated that Mangione will fight extradition to New York. He has two court hearings scheduled for Thursday in Pennsylvania, one of which is an extradition hearing.
After his arrest, the Manhattan district attorney's office filed paperwork charging him with murder and other offenses. They have since built on this indictment. The current theory of investigators is that Mangione, a computer science graduate from an Ivy League school and a member of a prominent Maryland family, was motivated by anger towards the US health care system.
A law enforcement bulletin obtained by The Associated Press revealed that Mangione was carrying a handwritten letter at the time of his arrest, expressing his disdain for health insurance companies and corporate greed. He had also frequently posted on social media about his own spinal surgery and encouraged others to speak up for themselves when dealing with medical issues.
Despite this, UnitedHealthcare has confirmed that Mangione was never a client of theirs. In recent months, Mangione had become distant from his family and close friends. They reported him missing to San Francisco authorities in November.
As for Thompson, he grew up on a farm in Iowa and was trained as an accountant. He had worked at UnitedHealth Group for 20 years before becoming CEO of the insurance arm in 2021. He leaves behind a wife and two high-school aged children. To stay updated on this ongoing case and other breaking news, you can download the 9NEWS app on your smartphone.
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