NEW YORK (Diya TV) — New York prosecutors indicted Luigi Mangione in the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. The 26 year old Ivy League graduate faces 11 counts in Manhattan for allegedly carrying out the murder, which includes a terrorism charge.
Prosecutors, led by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, described the attack as a “well-planned, targeted” killing meant to evoke terror. At a news conference, Bragg emphasized the impact of the shooting, which took place in one of the city’s busiest areas. “This brazen act threatened the safety of local residents, tourists, and commuters,” Bragg said.
New York Police Department (NYPD) Commissioner Jessica Tisch said similar things, condemning the social media accolades that erupted after Mangione’s arrest. “We don’t celebrate murders, and we certainly don’t lionize those who kill,” Tisch said. She described Mangione’s actions as putting New Yorkers at risk and called the incident a “cold-blooded” crime.
New York rarely applies the charge of first-degree murder since it requires aggravating circumstances such as terrorism or targeting a protected individual like a police officer. Prosecutors argue that Mangione’s crime meets the legal threshold by pointing to his intent to intimidate and terrorize.
However, some attorneys have doubts that the terrorism charge will be sustained in court. According to criminal defense attorney Stacy Schneider, the prosecutors might have a tough time proving Mangione’s intent to commit terrorism. “The victim was shot in the back of the head, not in a public, chaotic setting. From a defense perspective, this may not align with a terrorist murder,” Schneider said in an interview with CNN.
The Mangione case has, on social media, attracted support, with some people criticizing the healthcare industry. Mangione’s case has made Thompson’s murder linked with an increasing number of sentiments, which criticize “corporate greed,” according to a report from the New York Police Department’s Intelligence Bureau.
Despite the support, Mangione faces life imprisonment without the possibility of parole if convicted. Mangione’s lawyer, Karen Friedman Agnifilo, confirmed that Mangione will not fight extradition to New York from Pennsylvania, where he is currently held. His extradition hearing is scheduled for Thursday.
According to former federal prosecutor Jessica Roth, charging Mangione with terrorism could be a move on the part of prosecutors for an easy plea or to appeal to a jury for compromise. “Including the terrorism charge sets the stage for potential plea negotiations or a lesser conviction,” she said on “Anderson Cooper 360.
Mangione’s arraignment is set to be the next move in the legal process where his defense team will strongly push back on the charge of terrorism. According to experts, the aggressive approach by the prosecution seems similar to that of Bragg in other high-profile cases, such as the one where he indicted former President Donald Trump recently.
