Luigi Mangione Officially Charged with First-Degree Murder in UnitedHealthcare CEO Killing

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg made it official on Tuesday—Luigi Mangione is now facing first-degree murder charges for the shooting death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

While a first-degree murder charge is rare in New York, typically reserved for terrorism-related acts or the killing of law enforcement officers, Bragg’s office cited “an act of terrorism” as the driving factor behind the decision. This shift from the initial second-degree murder charge underscores the severity of the case and the allegations of premeditation.

According to the indictment obtained by TMZ, Mangione allegedly killed Thompson “in furtherance of an act of terrorism … intended to intimidate or coerce a civilian population, influence the policies of a unit of government, and affect the conduct of a unit of government by murder.”

The terrorism element appears to align with evidence found at the scene and during Mangione’s arrest. Shell casings recovered from the murder site were engraved with the words “Deny, Depose, Defend”—a reference to a book exposing alleged corrupt practices in the healthcare industry. On top of that, authorities seized a manifesto from Mangione when he was arrested at a Pennsylvania McDonald’s, which attacked the healthcare system. The 262-word letter took direct aim at UnitedHealthcare and accused the industry of exploiting the American public.

Mangione is also facing a laundry list of additional charges, including:

• Second-degree murder as a crime of terrorism
• Multiple counts of criminal possession of a weapon
• Forgery for allegedly possessing a ghost gun—a firearm believed to have been 3D-printed

Currently held in Pennsylvania, Mangione has been resisting extradition to New York, where the indictment will proceed. Authorities are also investigating Mangione’s weapons cache, which raises further questions about his preparation for the alleged attack.

If convicted of first-degree murder, Mangione faces life without parole—a stark contrast to the parole possibility under second-degree charges.

As this shocking case unfolds, what are your thoughts on the terrorism charge and the evidence so far? Do you think it changes the narrative? Drop your feedback in the comments.