Luigi Mangione, the man accused of fatally shooting UnitedHealthcare executive Brian Thompson in a calculated New York City attack, pleaded not guilty Monday to state charges, including a rare count of “terrorist” murder.
During his Manhattan court appearance, Mangione, 26, was clad in a white shirt and burgundy sweatshirt, with his hands shackled as police officers stood guard. The hearing, witnessed by an AFP correspondent, marked another chapter in the unfolding legal saga that has captured national attention.
Mangione is also facing federal charges for the December 4 assassination-style killing of Thompson, which prosecutors allege was meticulously planned. Authorities revealed Mangione’s dramatic extradition from Pennsylvania, where he was apprehended at a McDonald’s restaurant in Altoona following a nationwide manhunt.
According to court documents, Mangione traveled from Atlanta to New York by bus just days before the shooting. Using a fake identity, he checked into a Manhattan hostel and spent days surveilling Thompson’s movements. Early on December 4, Mangione allegedly trailed Thompson near his hotel before approaching him from behind and firing multiple rounds using a pistol equipped with a silencer. He reportedly fled the scene on a bicycle.
The motive behind the killing remains under investigation, but Thompson’s death has sparked widespread debate about the inequities of the U.S. healthcare system. While some on social media labeled Mangione a symbol of frustration with corporate healthcare, authorities have firmly condemned the act as premeditated murder.
Mangione’s case is unusual, as he faces charges in both state and federal courts. If convicted on state charges, he could receive life imprisonment without parole. On the federal side, he potentially faces the death penalty.
Mangione’s attorney, Karen Friedman Agnifilo, raised concerns over the complexities of parallel prosecutions, calling the situation “highly unusual.”
The suspect’s arrest on December 9 followed a tip from McDonald’s employees who recognized him after days of intensive searching. Federal prosecutors described his calculated movements leading up to and after the crime as evidence of a chillingly deliberate plan.
Mangione’s next court appearance is expected to clarify how the state and federal cases will proceed concurrently. Meanwhile, Thompson’s killing continues to draw national focus, sparking discussions on security, justice, and the intersections of corporate America with public discontent.
Comments