Luigi Mangione charged with ‘terrorism’ after alleged UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting

Luigi Mangione has been formally charged with first degree murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in what prosecutors have called “murder as an act of terrorism,” It was announced late Tuesday. The 26-year-old tech worker rose to global infamy after being arrested in a McDonald’s for the “brazen” murder of health insurance boss on the streets of New York .

U.S. prosecutors, backed by Gov. Kathy Hochul, are seeking to extradite Mangione from his prison in Pennsylvania to stand trial in a New York court. The state is seeking even more serious charges against the alleged killer that could lead to him spending the rest of his life in prison.

Mangione initially faced second-degree murder charges in Pennsylvania, but these were increased to one count of first-degree murder and two counts of second-degree murder, including one as an act of terrorism. During a press conference this afternoon, officials described the crime as a “terrifying and well-planned murder.”

Under New York law, such a charge can be filed when an alleged crime is intended to intimidate or coerce a civilian population, influence government policies through intimidation or coercion, or affect government conduct through assassination, assassination, or kidnapping. The district attorney further noted that Mangione could face life in prison without parole if convicted of the murder charges.