In a major move, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that prosecutors have been directed to seek the death penalty against Luigi Mangione. He is accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in December.
This marks the first time the federal government is pursuing the death penalty since Donald Trump returned to office in January, following through on his promise to resume executions.
A High-Profile Murder That Shocked the Nation
Brian Thompson, 50, was gunned down outside a Manhattan hotel on December 4 while attending his company’s annual investor conference. Surveillance footage shows a masked gunman shooting him from behind.
The incident led to a five-day manhunt and caused panic in the business community. Some insurance companies even switched to remote work due to safety concerns.
Who is Luigi Mangione?
Luigi Mangione, 26, is a graduate from an Ivy League university and comes from a wealthy real estate family in Maryland. Despite his background, he now faces serious federal and state charges for the murder.
Mangione was arrested in Altoona, Pennsylvania, on December 9. Authorities say he was carrying a 9mm handgun that matched the murder weapon and a notebook filled with anti-insurance messages.
Political and Legal Fallout
Attorney General Pam Bondi called the murder “an act of political violence” and described it as a “cold-blooded assassination.” The government says Mangione deliberately targeted Thompson due to his frustration with the health insurance industry.
Prosecutors revealed that words like “delay,” “deny,” and “depose” were written on the bullets used in the murder. These words are often used to criticize insurance companies accused of avoiding payouts.
Mangione’s Legal Team Responds
Mangione’s lawyer, Karen Friedman Agnifilo, strongly criticized the Justice Department’s decision. She called it “barbaric” and said her client was caught in a tug-of-war between state and federal prosecutors. She has vowed to fight all charges and is working to suppress certain evidence.
Federal vs. State Charges: What’s Next?
Mangione is facing both state and federal charges. The state trial is expected to happen first, though it’s unclear if the federal death penalty announcement will change that. If convicted in federal court, Mangione could face execution. If found guilty in state court, he may receive life in prison.
The federal case had been on hold but is now being moved forward under Trump’s new executive order, which requires the Justice Department to seek capital punishment where possible.
Trump Revives Federal Executions
Trump signed an executive order on January 20 to bring back federal executions, which had been paused under President Biden. This case is the first to test that policy.
Under Trump’s first term, the U.S. saw 13 federal executions in a short time. Biden, on the other hand, commuted most federal death sentences before leaving office, keeping only three inmates on death row: Dylann Roof, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, and Robert Bowers.