Manhattan DA commits to accountability in UnitedHealthcare CEO murder case
In his first comments since Luigi Mangione was charged with second-degree murder on Monday, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg expressed confidence that the 26-year-old would be quickly extradited to New York where he will be held responsible for his brazen murder. Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealthcare.
“We’re going to bring the defendant here and put him on trial as part of our legal process,” Bragg told ABC News on Wednesday, saying Mangione could face additional charges beyond second-degree murder charges. which he is currently facing.
“As we learn more about motivations and things like that…there could be additional charges,” Bragg said.
Luigi Mangione, suspect in the New York City killing of UnitedHealth executive Brian Thompson, leaves after an extradition hearing at the Blair County Courthouse in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, December 10, 2024.
Eduardo Munoz/Reuters
Mangione is also charged in New York with criminal possession of a forged instrument and several counts of criminal possession of a weapon.
“We intend to learn more and we have a lot of things to do,” Bragg said. “As things progress, additional fees may be imposed,” Bragg said.
Mangione’s attorney, Thomas Dickey, said his client intends to plead not guilty to the charges, saying there is no evidence linking his client to the crime. Bragg said he is convinced Mangione was the person who fired three bullets into Thompson’s torso last week, killing the health care official and sparking a storm of online vitriol.
“We wouldn’t charge the person if we didn’t think they were, and we’re ready to move forward and we’re on the path to accountability and justice,” Bragg said.
Once the former Ivy League player is extradited to New York, Bragg said Mangione will face a team made up of Manhattan’s most seasoned homicide prosecutors. The prosecutor acknowledged that the nature of the alleged crime is “extraordinarily frightening.”
“It’s very scary, and it’s something that’s got the attention of so many people who live here, so many people who come to work here, and rightfully so,” Bragg said.
Bragg’s comments come on the same day that the New York Police Department presented the first forensic evidence linking Mangione to the alleged crime. According to Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, fingerprints from the crime scene were matched to Mangione’s, and three shell casings recovered from the downtown shooting were matched to Mangione’s gun. 3D printed fist from Mangione. Bragg’s office said his office has been focused on combating so-called ghost guns since the start of his tenure as prosecutor.
“It’s something that we’re seeing used more and more, generally speaking. It’s also something that we’ve seen younger and younger people working on,” Bragg said.
When asked why Mangione was charged with second-degree murder, Bragg told ABC News that prosecutors wanted to bring charges quickly and that first-degree murder “has a number of delineated circumstances.”
“Murder 2 is the intentional killing of a person, punishable by 25 years to life in prison under New York law,” Bragg said. “Murder 1 has a number of delineated circumstances, including, for example, a serial murder, the murder of a witness, the murder of a police officer.”
Luigi Mangione is seen in this undated photo from his X account.
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Bragg has found himself at the center of several high-profile cases, including his conviction of former President Donald Trump and the recent acquittal of Marine veteran Daniel Penny. With the Mangione case, Bragg is expected to face not only high-profile prosecutions, but also a groundswell of public support for the accused murderer.
“I … spent time with families of homicide victims and survivors of violent crime,” Bragg said. “This is the centerpiece of our work, and to think that others are celebrating this conduct boggles my mind.”
Mangione, 26, an Ivy League graduate, is accused of shooting Thompson outside a Midtown Manhattan hotel on Dec. 4 as the CEO was on his way to an investor conference.
Thompson’s killing sparked online anger at the health insurance industry and some people online celebrated the suspect.
“Celebrating a murder is abhorrent,” Bragg said. “I’m sitting at the table of families whose loved ones have been killed. And to think of people celebrating that…beggars belief.”
Members of the New York Police Department’s Crime Scene Unit investigate the scene outside the Hilton Hotel in midtown Manhattan where UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was fatally shot, on December 4, 2024, in New York.
Stefan Jérémie/AP
“What I would say to members of the public… [who are] celebrate this and perhaps consider other actions: we will be vigilant and we will hold people accountable,” Bragg said.
The ghost gun allegedly in Mangione’s possession at the time of his arrest was matched to three shell casings recovered from the murder scene, according to the New York Police Department.
Fingerprints recovered from a water bottle and at a Kind bar near the crime scene were also linked to Mangione, police said.
Mangione was apprehended Monday in Altoona, Pennsylvania, after nearly a week on the run. He also faces charges in Pennsylvania, including alleged possession of an untraceable phantom gun.
This is an image of the ghost gun recovered from Luigi Mangione in Altoona, Pennsylvania, law enforcement sources told ABC News.
Obtained by ABC News
Mangione plans to contest his extradition to New York.
The Manhattan district attorney’s office said it would seek a warrant from the governor to try to obtain Mangione’s extradition. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a statement that she would sign a request for a governor’s warrant “to ensure that this individual is brought to justice and held accountable.”
