Suspect in killing of insurance CEO faces federal murder, stalking charges

The suspect in the killing of UnitedHealth Group's top executive Brian Thompson was charged with federal murder and stalking crimes in a Manhattan courtroom on Dec 19.

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The suspect in the killing of UnitedHealth Group's top executive Brian Thompson was charged with federal murder and stalking crimes in a Manhattan courtroom on Dec 19, alongside state murder and terrorism charges previously announced by New York prosecutors.

Federal prosecutors in Manhattan have charged Luigi Mangione, 26, with the federal crime of murder using a firearm, two charges of stalking and a charge of using an illegal gun silencer, according to a criminal complaint.

The complaint accused Mangione of spending months planning an attack, driven by his contempt for the health insurance industry and for wealthy corporate executives.

Mangione was transferred into the custody of New York City police earlier on Dec 19 after he waived his right to extradition proceedings at a court hearing in Pennsylvania, the state where he was arrested following a five-day manhunt.

Handcuffed and in a bright orange jumpsuit, he was escorted off a helicopter that landed in Lower Manhattan by a large group of police officers, with New York City Mayor Eric Adams - who has called Mr. Thompson's killing an outrage - walking a few steps behind.

According to the federal complaint, a notebook found by police in Altoona, Pennsylvania, in Mangione's possession contained several handwritten pages that "express hostility towards the health insurance industry and wealthy executives in particular".

Earlier this week, a grand jury in New York indicted Mangione on 11 counts of breaking state law, including first-degree murder and murder as an act of terrorism, punishable by a maximum sentence of life in prison.