Luigi Mangione, the 26-year-old accused assassin of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, was indicted on federal charges Thursday, escalating what has already become one of the most politically charged and polarizing criminal cases in recent U.S. memory.
Federal prosecutors charged Mangione with two counts of stalking, one firearms offense, and one count of murder with a firearm — a charge that makes him eligible for the death penalty if convicted. The indictment follows Mangione’s alleged killing of Thompson on December 4, 2024, in what authorities are calling a premeditated, ideologically motivated act of political violence.
According to investigators, Thompson, 49, a father of two and longtime healthcare executive, was walking to a conference in Midtown Manhattan when Mangione allegedly approached him on foot and shot him point-blank in broad daylight. The attack stunned onlookers and triggered a national debate over political extremism and the deepening hostility toward the U.S. healthcare industry.
Mangione, who fled the scene, was arrested days later in Altoona, Pennsylvania, after a multi-state manhunt. Authorities say he was found with a firearm and a handwritten copy of his manifesto, in which he referred to healthcare executives as “parasitic profiteers” and condemned what he described as a “commodified system of suffering.”
On Thursday, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed the Department of Justice would pursue the death penalty, citing the calculated nature of the attack and the public interest in deterring further acts of politically motivated violence.
“Luigi Mangione’s murder of Brian Thompson — an innocent man and father of two young children — was a premeditated, cold-blooded assassination that shocked America,” Bondi said. “After careful consideration, I have directed federal prosecutors to seek the death penalty in this case as we carry out President Trump’s agenda to stop violent crime and Make America Safe Again.”
Mangione has pleaded not guilty to state charges and is expected to enter a plea in federal court later this month. His legal team condemned the decision to pursue capital punishment, arguing it was “a political stunt” designed to make an example out of their client.
"The government is seeking to kill Mr. Mangione to make headlines — not justice," one of Mangione’s attorneys said Thursday outside court. “This case has been politicized from the start.”
A Divisive Figure
Despite the gravity of the charges against him, Mangione has become a cult figure among some segments of the public, particularly on social media. Supporters point to his articulate — if incendiary — writings about systemic injustice and the failings of the healthcare industry. Others see his actions as the dangerous escalation of a broken political discourse.
A legal defense fund established by his supporters has reportedly raised over $300,000, and rallies backing the accused assassin have taken place in cities from San Francisco to Chicago.
Independent journalist Taylor Lorenz sparked controversy this week after defending Mangione’s online following during an appearance on CNN.
“It’s hilarious to see these millionaire media pundits on TV clutching their pearls about someone stanning a murderer when this is the United States of America — as if we don’t lionize criminals,” Lorenz said. “As if we don’t stan murderers of all sorts. We give them Netflix shows!”
Lorenz went on to describe Mangione as “a revolutionary,” calling him “handsome,” “smart,” and “morally good,” a characterization that drew swift backlash from both political parties and the general public.
A Nation Watching
The case now sits at the volatile intersection of violence, ideology, media spectacle, and a healthcare system millions of Americans feel disillusioned by. The trial, which legal experts say could take months to begin due to the complexity of the charges and likely pretrial motions, is expected to be a lightning rod for protestors, pundits, and political operatives alike.
As the justice system begins its slow march forward, the country remains divided — some mourning a father and executive murdered in cold blood, others lionizing the man accused of pulling the trigger.
