The Ivy League-educated computer programmer charged with the ambush murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson has been indicted by a New York grand jury.
Luigi Mangione, 26, is accused of sneaking up behind Thompson, a Minnesota man, outside the Hilton Hotel in Manhattan in the early morning hours of December 4 as he headed to a shareholders' meeting.
Mr. Mangione currently faces a top charge of first-degree murder, two counts of second-degree murder, seven counts of criminal possession of a weapon of varying degrees, and a criminal charge of possession of a forged instrument, all felonies.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg called it a “brazen, targeted, premeditated shooting.” Surveillance camera video showed the assassination-style ambush. A masked man came out onto the sidewalk behind Thompson and fired, striking him in the back and walking away.
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Luigi Mangione appears in a Pennsylvania mugshot after being arrested in connection with the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. (Obtained by Fox News Digital)
Mr. Mangione was arrested on Monday, December 9, in Altoona, Pennsylvania, after people inside a McDonald's recognized him from a wanted poster.
He is being held without bail and said last week in court he intended to fight his extradition.
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The CEO of UnitedHealthcare's parent company mourned the death of Brian Thompson and asked the public to understand that industry executives were doing the best they could with a flawed system. (AP Photo/United Health Group)
Mangione initially faced a variety of charges, with second-degree murder being the top charge. In New York, first-degree murder requires special circumstances, such as the victim being a police officer or the victim being tortured. In this case, prosecutors now claim the murder was an act of terrorism.
Authorities said the suspect dropped a burner cell phone at the scene and fingerprints were found on other items. They said they also found a trajectory match between Mangione's gun and the bullet that killed Thompson.
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According to police, parts of the suspected murder weapon, including the receiver and suppressor, were 3D printed. Three 9mm shell casings found at the scene contained the words “defense,” “abandonment,” and “denial.”
Luigi Mangione screams while being restrained by police as he arrives for his extradition hearing at the Blair County Courthouse in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, on Tuesday, December 10, 2024. (David Dee Delgado, Fox News Digital)
Thompson, 50 years old; He worked for UnitedHealth Group for 20 years and became CEO of the UnitedHealthcare subsidiary in April 2021, according to his online biography. He had two children.
FOX News' Eric Revell contributed to this report.
This is a developing story.
