Luigi Mangione, 26, has been indicted on 11 counts, including first-degree murder and murder as a crime of terrorism, for the shooting death of UnitedHealth Group executive Brian Thompson on a Manhattan street. The shooting was allegedly a well-planned and targeted attack intended to cause shock, attention, and intimidation.
The indictment accuses Mangione of murdering Thompson with the intent to influence the policy of a unit of government by intimidation or coercion. The killing has sparked outrage, particularly among those struggling to receive and pay for medical care in the United States, where healthcare spending has been rising in recent years.
Mangione has been celebrated in some circles, with over 1,000 donations pouring into an online fundraiser for his legal defense. However, New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch has condemned attempts to rationalize Mangione’s alleged actions, calling them “vile.” Mangione is currently being held on gun charges in Pennsylvania, where he is scheduled to have a hearing on his extradition to New York on Thursday.
The motive behind the shooting is unclear, although Mangione has been open about his struggles with chronic back pain. UnitedHealth Group has stated that Mangione was not a customer of the health insurer. If convicted on all counts, Mangione would face a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.