Federal prosecutors have brought four charges against Luigi Mangione, the man accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, in a case that has captured national attention. Among the charges is murder through the use of a firearm, a count that could open the door for federal prosecutors to seek the death penalty. Mangione, 26, also faces federal firearms charges and two counts of stalking, as revealed in a newly unsealed federal complaint.
The charges stem from the fatal shooting of Thompson outside the New York Hilton Midtown in November. Thompson had been scheduled to address an annual investors meeting when he was gunned down in what authorities describe as a meticulously planned attack. Mangione was apprehended days later at a McDonald's in Altoona, Pennsylvania, after an intense manhunt. He waived extradition and was transported to New York under heavy security, accompanied by New York City Mayor Eric Adams.
The federal complaint includes troubling new details, including the discovery of a notebook that investigators say belonged to Mangione. The notebook reportedly contained multiple entries expressing hostility toward the health insurance industry and wealthy executives. One entry, dated October 22-six weeks before the shooting-described an investor conference as a "true windfall" and mentioned an intent to "wack" the CEO of an insurance company.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg characterized the attack as a deliberate attempt to intimidate and coerce, calling it a "frightening, well-planned, targeted murder." Bragg added that the incident threatened the safety of both residents and tourists in one of New York City's busiest areas. State prosecutors have already charged Mangione with 11 counts, including first-degree murder and second-degree murder as an act of terrorism. The first-degree murder charge carries a potential sentence of life in prison without parole.
Mangione's attorney, Karen Friedman Agnifilo, criticized the additional federal charges as excessive. "The federal government's reported decision to pile on top of an already overcharged first-degree murder and state terror case is highly unusual and raises serious constitutional and statutory double jeopardy concerns," she said.
In addition to the charges in New York, Mangione faces accusations in Pennsylvania, where he was found in possession of a ghost gun, a silencer, and writings expressing animosity toward corporate America.
Investigators say Mangione began planning the attack as early as August. According to the notebook allegedly recovered from his possession, an entry from that month indicated he was "glad" for delays in his preparations, as they allowed him to gather more information about UnitedHealthcare. The same notebook described the Manhattan investor conference as a prime opportunity and hinted at the aftermath the shooting would provoke, referring cryptically to "the message" becoming "self-evident."
Further evidence includes a letter addressed "to the Feds," in which Mangione claimed to have acted alone. The letter reportedly stated that his plans were "trivial" and made reference to "basic CAD," believed to refer to computer-aided design, a tool commonly used for creating models. "You can check serial numbers to verify this is all self-funded," Mangione allegedly wrote, adding, "My own ATM withdrawals."
