© Katie Goodale/ USA TODAY NETWORK / USA TODAY NETWORK
(New York, NY) — Luigi Mangione appeared in federal court in New York City Thursday (Dec. 19, 2024), is now facing federal charges that upon conviction could trigger the death penalty. The 26-year-old, accused of assassinating United HealthCare CEO Brian Thompson on December 4th, is now federally charged with murder, stalking and a firearms offense. That’s in addition to 11 New York state charges that include murder with a terrorism enhancement.
The Manhattan District Attorney’s office says the state and federal cases “will proceed in parallel.” Mangione’s lawyer is preparing to argue that her client is being charged for the same crimes twice, a “double jeopardy” violation. No bail was sought at today’s federal hearing and it’s believed that Mangione will be held at Rikers Island.
The four federal charges brought against Luigi Mangione involve murder, stalking and using a weapon equipped with a silencer. Those charges could trigger the death penalty for the 26-year-old Ivy League graduate, if prosecutors seek it. The federal complaint claims Mangione traveled from Georgia to New York City “for the purpose of stalking and killing Brian Thompson” on December 4th in broad daylight in front of a Manhattan hotel.
