Luigi Mangione has been charged with murder as an act of terrorism in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
Authorities announced this development, with Mangione being charged with one count of murder in the first degree in furtherance of terrorism, two counts of murder in the second degree, and multiple counts of criminal possession of a weapon.
The big picture: Mangione was previously charged with the murder of Thompson, but the terrorism allegation is a new addition to the charges.
- This type of charge can be brought in New York when a crime is intended to intimidate or coerce a civilian population, influence government policies, or affect government conduct through murder, assassination, or kidnapping.
Flashback: He was arrested after intense police searches and was spotted in a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania. Upon arrest, he was found carrying the gun used to kill Thompson, a passport, and fake IDs. He was charged with Pennsylvania gun and forgery offenses and held without bail. His attorney questioned the evidence for the forgery charge and the legal basis for the gun charge.
Driving the news: Investigators believe that Mangione, an Ivy League computer science graduate, was driven by anger towards the US healthcare system.
- The suspect was carrying a handwritten letter expressing discontent with health insurance companies and corporate greed. Mangione had undergone spinal surgery, and his social media posts indicated frustration with the medical industry.
