Luigi Mangione, the man accused of killing UnitedHealth Group CEO Brian Thompson in a shooting on a Manhattan street, pleaded not guilty to murder and terrorism charges on Monday. The charges include three counts of murder, with one of them being related to terrorism. If found guilty, Mangione could face life in prison without parole.
Mangione, 26, was arrested five days after the murder at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania. The killing took place on December 4, 2023, outside a hotel in Manhattan where Thompson’s company was hosting an investor conference.
Mangione is also facing federal charges of stalking and killing Thompson, but he has not yet pleaded to those charges. A judge ordered him to stay in detention during the ongoing case.
Some protesters showed support for Mangione outside the courthouse, criticizing healthcare companies. The killing has sparked debates, with some seeing Mangione as a hero against high healthcare costs, while others strongly condemn the act.
Federal charges could lead to the death penalty if pursued, and the state and federal cases are moving forward separately. Mangione’s lawyer argued that the state and federal charges seem to be based on different ideas and asked prosecutors to clarify whether both will continue.
Police found a notebook in Mangione’s possession that contained pages with angry notes about the health insurance industry and wealthy executives. One entry mentioned a plan to target the CEO of an insurance company at an investor conference.
