Updated: Luigi Mangione pleaded not guilty Monday to murder and terrorism charges in a Manhattan court in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
Mangione, dressed in civilian clothes, entered the dining room in shackles and under heavy security. For the first time, he formally addressed the charges, saying he was “not guilty” of the 11 counts in the indictment, including one of first-degree murder and two of second-degree murder, along with other weapons and forgery charges.
A Manhattan grand jury increased charges against Mangione last week to include first-degree murder in furtherance of terrorism.
The next court date is set for February 21.
Previous, December 19: Luigi Mangione, the suspect accused of killing United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson, agreed to be extradited to New York during a court hearing in Pennsylvania, and will be flown back to New York City today.
Mangione faces 11 charges in New York, including one count of first-degree murder and two counts of second-degree murder, along with other weapons and forgery charges, according to the indictment.
“It's in his best interest, and we're moving forward,” Mangione's defense attorney Thomas Dickey said.
Federal charges against Mangione are also expected to be unveiled later today.
Mangione was arrested at a McDonald's restaurant in Altoona, Pennsylvania, on December 9, five days after Thompson was shot to death. He was charged in Pennsylvania with felony counts of forgery and carrying a firearm without a license, and a misdemeanor count of using a false ID.
Previous, December 17: New York Attorney General Luigi Mangione was charged today with premeditated murder, and faces life in prison without parole if found guilty.
“We allege that Luigi Mangione carried out the brazen, targeted and fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in midtown Manhattan,” Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg announced the 11 counts overall in the newly released indictment.
Read the indictment against Luigi Mangione here.
“This type of intentional, targeted armed violence cannot and will not be tolerated, and my office is working day in and day out to bring the defendant to justice,” the DA added. “I want to extend my heartfelt prayers to Mr. Thompson's loved ones as they continue to grieve. This ongoing investigation is the product of an amazing partnership at all levels with the NYPD, and I would like to thank Commissioner Tisch, the prosecutors, and the investigators who worked collaboratively to arrest Mr. Mangione. He is now indicted. Charged by the New York State Supreme Court with three counts of murder and facing a maximum sentence of life in prison without parole.
While fighting extradition to the Empire State from Pennsylvania, where he was arrested on December 9 after a nationwide manhunt, a masked Mangione shot Thompson in the street outside his New York City hotel in the early morning of December 4.
Since his arrest, as seen on late-night television and social media, the alleged shooter has become a disgusting cultural sensation as a sex symbol and advocate against alleged abuses by the health insurance industry.
DA Bragg is expected to hold a press conference this afternoon with New York City Police Department Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch about the charges that were just released. In what is sure to be widely covered by news and broadcast networks, Bragg is also expected to focus on the stealth gun used by Mangione and the risk of the technology it produces spreading.
Third update, December 10 pm: The man accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Manhattan last week appeared at an extradition hearing Tuesday in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania.
Luigi Mangione, 26, was again denied bail at the court hearing and will remain at Huntingdon State Correctional Institution in Pennsylvania. The court gave him 14 days to file a subpoena, and a hearing will be scheduled if he does so.
At the brief hearing, defense attorney Thomas Dickey told the court that Mangione would not waive extradition to New York but instead wanted a hearing on the case. Plaintiffs have 30 days to obtain a court order.
Mangione scuffled with deputies as he entered the courtroom Tuesday, and could be heard shouting, in part, “It's so out of touch with reality and an insult to the intelligence of the American people. It's a lived experience!”
Mangione was charged with murder hours after he was arrested Monday at a McDonald's restaurant in Altoona, Pennsylvania, in the Manhattan killing of Thompson, who was shot and killed on December 4 in what police called a “brazen targeted attack” outside a hotel where his company was holding a meeting. For investors.
A law enforcement bulletin obtained by The Associated Press said Mangione was likely motivated by what he called “parasitic” health insurance companies and disdain for corporate greed.
the second Updated Monday at 8:06 p.m.: Manhattan prosecutors formally charged the man arrested in Pennsylvania earlier today in the fatal shooting a week ago of a health insurance executive with first-degree murder.
He allegedly shot UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson to death at close range in the early hours of December 4 on the street outside his hotel in New York City. Luigi Mangione faces one count of murder and two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. And one charge. One count of second-degree possession of a forged document, and one count of third-degree possession of a firearm. If convicted as charged by the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, the 26-year-old could remain behind bars for the rest of his life.
Shortly before charges were filed in the Empire State, police in Altoona, Pennsylvania, created a booking photo of Maggione.
Mangione remains in the custody of the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections after his arrest at a McDonald's restaurant earlier Monday.
the first Updated at 4:30 p.m.: Luigi Mangione, the suspect in the murder of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson, was ordered held without bail during his arraignment this afternoon in a Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, court.
Mangione, who has not entered a plea, faces several charges, including a felony forgery charge and a felony charge of carrying a firearm without a license, according to media reports.
Police arrested 26-year-old Mangione this morning after a report that he had been spotted at a McDonald's restaurant in Altoona, Pennsylvania.
Previously, at 11:49 a.m.: Just five days after UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was gunned down in the streets of New York City in the early morning, a “powerful person of interest” has been arrested on firearms charges in Pennsylvania.
The person has been identified by law enforcement as 26-year-old Luigi Mangione. A person sought by police across the country and long suspected of being out of New York City, Mangione was arrested Monday at a McDonald's restaurant in Altoona, Pennsylvania. According to reports, an employee at the fast food restaurant recognized the suspect from a security camera image of his face that was widely disseminated by police and others last week and distributed to the media.
CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, BBC as well as numerous online platforms immediately jumped into coverage of the case, all following a live press conference held by New York City Mayor Eric Adams, where he provided more information about the arrest and the “ongoing” investigation.
Mangione had in his possession a handwritten statement of sorts denouncing the high cost of health care in America, the generally low standard of health care in America and corporate profits from that care.
“After further investigation, officers found a firearm in his possession, along with a suppressor, both of which were consistent with the weapon used in the killing,” New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said at the press conference.
“They also recovered clothing, including a mask consistent with that worn by the wanted person,” Tesch added. “A fraudulent New Jersey ID that matched the ID the suspect used to check into his New York City motel prior to the shooting incident was also recovered,” as well as a U.S. passport.
As one Fox News commentator put it, there was “a lot of evidence” about the suspect in the CEO's murder.
Thompson, 50, was killed last Wednesday in what police called a “brazen and targeted” attack as he walked alone to the Hilton from a nearby hotel, where UnitedHealthcare's parent company, UnitedHealth Group, was holding its annual investor conference, police said.
The FBI announced late last week that it was offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction. That was in addition to a reward of up to $10,000 offered by the NYPD.
