U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi announced Tuesday, April 1, 2025, that she has ordered federal prosecutors to seek the death penalty against Luigi Mangione, accused of murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on December 4, 2024.
In an official statement, Bondi called the crime a “premeditated, cold-blooded murder,” and linked it to a possible act of political violence, as part of President Trump’s federal agenda to combat violent crime.
Murder in Manhattan
Mangione, 26, has been identified by authorities as the perpetrator of Thompson’s murder in the middle of the street in Manhattan, New York.
The event occurred in front of witnesses and generated commotion due to the direct nature of the attack.
After the crime, Mangione fled and was captured five days later at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania.
According to the Department of Justice, the crime was carefully planned and executed in an environment where there was risk to other citizens.
The case generates controversy
Despite the seriousness of the charges, Mangione has received support from sectors critical of the U.S. private healthcare system.
Through digital platforms, a campaign to fund his defense has raised more than $700,000.
Some supporters see it as a symbol of resistance to the power of insurance companies.
However, prosecutor Bondi was forceful:
This was the murder of an innocent man, a father, and we will not allow acts of violence of this nature to go unpunished
Pamela Bondi
Parallel processes
Buzzy
Mangione faces three legal proceedings:
Federal murder charges, including the possible death penalty.
A state trial in New York for alleged act of terrorism.
An additional prosecution in Pennsylvania linked to his escape.
Although the prosecution expects the state case in New York to move forward first, it is not yet confirmed whether the federal death penalty petition will change that order.
Mangione has pleaded not guilty and remains in custody at the Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center.
For more information, visit QueOnnda.com.
