NEW YORK (AP) — The man accused of murdering the CEO of UnitedHealthcare has been charged with murder as an act of terrorism, prosecutors said Tuesday as they worked to transfer him to a New York court from a jail in Pennsylvania.
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Luigi Mangione was already charged with murder for the death of Brian Thompson on December 4, but the terrorism accusation is new.
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Why was Mangione accused of terrorism?
According to New York law, such a charge may be brought when it is alleged that a crime "is intended to intimidate or coerce a civilian population, influence the policies of a government unit through intimidation or coercion, and affect the conduct of a government unit through murder or kidnapping.".
Mangione's lawyer in New York has not commented on the case.
What was the crime of Luigi Mangione like?
Thompson, a 50-year-old, was shot and killed while walking towards a hotel in Manhattan where UnitedHealthcare, based in Minnesota and the second largest health insurer in the United States, was holding a conference for investors.
“It was a terrifying, well-planned and orchestrated murder that aimed to generate shock, attention, and intimidation,” said Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg on Tuesday at a press conference. “It occurred in one of the busiest parts of our city, threatening the safety of local residents and tourists alike, as well as travelers and businesspeople who were just starting their day.”
After days of searching by the police and media coverage, Mangione was seen at a McDonald's restaurant in Altoona, Pennsylvania, and arrested.
The New York police have said that Mangione was carrying the weapon used to kill Thompson, a passport, and several fake identifications, including one he presented to check in at a hostel in New York.
The 26-year-old man was accused in Pennsylvania of weapons and forgery crimes, and imprisoned there without the right to bail. His lawyer in Pennsylvania has questioned the evidence of the forgery charge and the legal basis of the weapons charge. The lawyer has also stated that Mangione would fight against extradition to New York.
Mangione has two hearings scheduled in Pennsylvania for Thursday, one of them regarding his extradition.