Luigi Mangione, the man accused of fatally shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, appeared in a New York court on Monday, where he faces state charges including murder as an act of terrorism.
Court Appearance and Charges
Mangione, 26, was brought into the Manhattan courtroom in shackles. He is charged with first-degree murder in furtherance of terrorism, as well as multiple weapons counts. The charges stem from the December 4 shooting of Thompson outside a Midtown Manhattan hotel.
Prosecutors allege that Mangione lay in wait for Thompson and shot him from behind. Mangione has pleaded not guilty to the state charges.
Legal Proceedings
The hearing on Monday was brief, with the judge setting a trial date for October 2025. Mangione's defense attorney, Karen Friedman Agnifilo, said after the hearing that her client is being held in conditions that are "inhumane," and she requested that he be moved to a facility where he can better prepare for trial.
Mangione also faces separate federal charges, including stalking and murder, which could carry the death penalty. His lawyers have argued that the federal case is an "unprecedented" and "politically motivated" use of the justice system.
Background
Thompson, 50, was shot as he walked to an investor conference. The attack sparked a nationwide manhunt that ended with Mangione's arrest in Pennsylvania on December 9. He was later extradited to New York.
