By Luc Cohen

New York Murder Case

Luigi Mangione sought to "sow terror" by shooting dead UnitedHealth Group executive Brian Thompson on a Manhattan street this month, a New York prosecutor said on Tuesday as he announced that Mangione had been indicted for murder.

A grand jury indicted Mangione on 11 counts, including first-degree murder and murder as a crime of terrorism, according to Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. Mangione, 26, faces a mandatory life sentence without the possibility of parole if convicted on all counts.

"This was a frightening, well-planned, targeted murder that was intended to cause shock and attention and intimidation," Bragg stated. "The intent was to sow terror."

Mangione's defense lawyer, Karen Friedman Agnifilo, declined to comment.

Mangione was charged with murder on Dec. 9 after killing Thompson outside a Manhattan hotel before a company conference, following a five-day manhunt. He is currently being held on gun charges in Pennsylvania, where he was arrested last week at a McDonald's restaurant in Altoona.

Bragg mentioned that Mangione might waive his right to contest extradition to New York, and a hearing for this is scheduled for Thursday in Pennsylvania.

Public Outcry

The killing of Thompson has ignited widespread anger among Americans facing rising healthcare costs. According to government data, Americans pay more for healthcare than any other country, with escalating spending on insurance premiums, out-of-pocket payments, pharmaceuticals, and hospital services.

News outlets reported that the words "deny," "defend," and "depose" were found written on shell casings at the murder scene, referencing a book critical of the insurance industry.

Despite the gravity of the crime, Mangione has received support, with over a thousand donations to an online fundraiser for his legal defense. New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch condemned any attempts to rationalize Mangione's actions as "vile," stating, "There is no heroism in what Mangione did. We don't celebrate murders and we don't lionize the killing of anyone."

The indictment claims Mangione murdered Thompson intending to "influence the policy of a unit of government by intimidation or coercion."

Friends and social media posts indicate that Mangione suffered from chronic back pain affecting his daily life, though it remains unclear if this influenced his actions. UnitedHealth Group confirmed Mangione was not a customer of their health insurance services.