– This murder was intended to shock, attract attention and cause fear, – says prosecutor Alvin Bragg about the crime in Manhattan. A young American man suspected of murdering an insurance company president is facing charges including first-degree murder and terrorism.
Luigi Mangione shot and killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on December 4. During his arrest in Pennsylvania, a manifesto was found in his possession, in which he wrote about the greed of insurance companies and corporations, as well as the fight against this greed. Some social media users hailed him as a “hero fighting the system”.
The New York police chief said there was no heroism in Thompson's killing and that it was a senseless murder.
A New York grand jury indicted the man. He was charged with, among other things, first degree murder. In New York, such a charge is possible only if there are additional circumstances other than intent to commit murder, such as torture, murder of a witness, murder of a police officer or terrorism.
In November, his mother reported that her son was missing
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said Mangione planned the killing to “shock, attract public attention and intimidate.” In other words, Manhattan prosecutors claim that by committing the murder, he met all the requirements that would allow this act to be classified as terrorism.
If convicted in New York, Luigi Mangione faces up to life in prison without parole.
The defendant will appear in court on Thursday, December 19 in Pennsylvania. There will be two trials. One of the charges he faces in Pennsylvania would involve forgery or illegal possession of a weapon. The second case, which is more important, deals with extradition to New York.
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Luigi Mangione now has a new team of defenders. According to unofficial reports, the team will seek to have Mangione voluntarily surrender to extradition. If that happens, he could appear in his first court appearance in Manhattan on Thursday.
Six months before Brian Thompson's murder, Luigi Mangione cut off all contact with his family and friends. In November, his mother reported that her son was missing.
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Main image source: CNN
