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Luigi Mangione latest: UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting suspect charged with murder as an ‘act of terrorism’

Brian Thompson shooting suspect is set to return to court for a preliminary hearing in Pennsylvania on Thursday

James Liddell,Kelly Rissman,Tara Cobham
Wednesday 18 December 2024 09:29 EST
Related: Lawyer says ‘no evidence’ links gun found on Luigi Mangione to CEO shooting

Luigi Mangione has been indicted on murder charges for an “act of terrorism” in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, New York prosecutors revealed on Tuesday.

The indictment was announced during an afternoon press conference, days before the suspect is set to appear in Pennsylvania court for a preliminary hearing on gun charges. He was arrested in the Commonwealth after a nearly week-long manhunt.

The 26-year-old is accused of fatally shooting the healthcare executive on the streets of Midtown Manhattan on the morning of December 4 and then eluding police for five days before he was arrested at a McDonald’s in Pennsylvania.

The suspected shooter has retained high-profile attorney Karen Friedman Agnifilo to defend him. Agnifilo previously worked at the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, serving as the chief assistant district attorney for seven years, before moving to private practice in 2021.

Mangione’s supporters continue to donate thousands of dollars for his “defense” fund. The anonymous fund “December 4th Legal Committee” has amassed more than $140,000 in donations on the crowdfunding website GiveSendGo.

Backpack company faces backlash for identifying bag used by Thompson’s killer

The CEO of a backpack manufacturer is facing backlash following reports that he tipped authorities off to the bag used by the suspect in the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

Peak Design founder and boss Peter Dering told The New York Times on December 5 that he had contacted police as soon as he saw surveillance footage of the backpack worn by the masked killer and recognized it as one of his company’s.

“Of course, my instinct would be to do whatever is possible to help track this person down,” Dering said. He added that, if police asked for help, he would “check with his general counsel about what information he could release.”

James Liddell has the story.

Backpack company faces backlash for identifying UnitedHealthcare CEO shooter’s bag

Peak Design founder Peter Dering has been flooded with comments calling him a ‘snitch’ following Luigi Mangione’s arrest

James Liddell17 December 2024 11:01

Mangione allegedly suffered from chronic pain. It’s a problem plaguing more than one-third of Americans

Luigi Mangione, the alleged perpetrator in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, reportedly suffered from chronic back pain.

Posts on the content-sharing platform Reddit under the now-defunct username “Mister_Cactus” appeared to reference the 26-year-old’s extensive health problems. The user referred to “spondy,” which is commonly known as spondylolisthesis.

Spondylolisthesis is a condition caused by a vertebra slipping out of place and putting pressure on the bones below. While it commonly occurs in older adults due to a type of arthritis, a common disease that causes joint inflammation and stiffness, it can also be brought on by trauma, spinal destabilization, bone disease, or a birth defect.

Julia Musto has the full story.

Luigi Mangione suffered from chronic pain. It’s plagues a third of Americans

Chronic pain originates from various sources and is defined as any pain persisting beyond 3 months

Kelly Rissman16 December 2024 21:00

ICYMI: Luigi Mangione's mugshot emblazoned on stickers and t-shirts after murder charge

Luigi Mangione's mugshot emblazoned on stickers and t-shirts after murder charge
Kelly Rissman16 December 2024 19:30

Donations for Luigi Mangione’s ‘defense fund’ surpass $100,000

Luigi Mangione supporters have donated tens of thousands of dollars to “defense funds” set up for him after he was arrested on suspicion of murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

The anonymous fund “December 4th Legal Committee” surpassed more than $100,000 in donations on the crowdfunding website GiveSendGo by Sunday morning.

The group’s name is an apparent reference to the day the 26-year-old allegedly gunned down the healthcare executive on a busy Manhattan street.

Read the full story.

Public donations for Luigi Mangione’s ‘defense fund’ surpass $100,000

The anonymous fundraiser for Luigi Mangione had surpassed more than $100,000 by Sunday

Kelly Rissman16 December 2024 18:00

Sen. Bernie Sanders says CEO murder came amid people’s anger ‘rising up’ over health insurance denials

Bernie Sanders, the Vermont senator who has campaigned for a national healthcare system, has said the UnitedHealthcare CEO’s shooting underscores people’s frustration with the industry.

Sanders, an Independent who caucuses with the Democrats, made the remarks on Meet the Press on Sunday morning.

“What I think has happened in the last few months is that what you have seen rising up is people’s anger at a health insurance industry, which denies people the health care that they desperately need while they make billions and billions of dollars in profit,” the senator told the show’s host Kristen Welker in response to a question about whether now is the right time to be discussing health insurance policy.

Luigi Mangione, the suspect in the murder, allegedly gunned down UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on December 4 in New York City. He was arrested days later at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania. At the time, police said they found a handwritten manifesto on him outlining his motive.

Read the full story.

Bernie Sanders says US is angry over health insurance denials

Democratic congressmembers are highlighting problems with the US healthcare industry

Kelly Rissman16 December 2024 16:30

Luigi Mangione fans baffle SNL’s unhinged Nancy Grace

Saturday Night Live jumped into the nation's morbid fascination with Luigi Mangione, the man accused of fatally shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

The cold open kicked off with Sarah Sherman’s incredulous true crime entertainer Nancy Grace, who complained that “women and gay guys alike” have made Mangione into a “sex symbol.”

She said Mangione looked like “Dave Franco with Eugene Levy's eyebrows.”

Graig Graziosi has the story.

Luigi Mangione fans baffle SNL’s unhinged Nancy Grace

SNL tackles American outrage and obsession with ‘sex icon’ Luigi Mangione

James Liddell16 December 2024 16:00

McDonald’s worker may see a reward for calling in tip

The McDonald’s employee in Altoona, Pennsylvania who called in the tip that led to the arrest of Luigi Mangione is eligible for law enforcement’s $60,000 reward — but he may not collect it for a while.

The manhunt for the masked gunman suspected of fatally shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on December 4 came to an end after six days when Larry, a McDonald’s employee, called 911, saying he recognized a customer nibbling on hashbrowns from the photos circulated by NYPD. Now, that worker is eligible to collect tens of thousands of dollars in reward money.

Mangione, 26, has been charged with second-degree murder in New York in connection to Thompson’s death. He also faces gun charges in Pennsylvania, where he was arrested.

The FBI was offering up to $50,000 and NYPD Crime Stoppers was offering $10,000 for information that led to an arrest or conviction.

“The individual in Pennsylvania, who called in a tip, is eligible to receive the reward,” the Police Foundation board said in a statement Wednesday.

Since most rewards require a conviction, Larry might have to wait until a trial completes, which could take a year or more, the Associated Press reported.

Read the full story.

McDonald’s worker is eligible for Mangione reward, but it’s going to take a minute

Tipsters were eligible to collect $60,000 in reward money for information that led to the arrest or conviction

James Liddell16 December 2024 15:00

Anchor interviews inmates at Mangione’s jail

A TV anchor managed to interview men at the alleged shooter’s jail as they watched her program from their cells.

Mangione is at a state correctional facility in Huntingdon. The prisoners there complained about their living conditions and meals by screaming yes or no to the anchor’s questions.

Watch the interaction here:

Michelle Del Rey16 December 2024 14:00

What has Mangione’s family said in the wake of his arrest?

Luigi Mangione’s family couldn’t merely afford medical care. They could afford to donate more than $1 million of their own money to healthcare.

That’s according to a report Monday from The Baltimore Banner, which chronicles the wealthy family history of the man charged with murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

Following the news of Mangione’s arrest Monday, his family released a statement saying they were “shocked.”

Io Dodds has the full story.

Luigi Mangione’s family: Who are the relatives of CEO murder suspect

The man charged with murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson came from an influential Baltimore family with longstanding ties to local hospitals

James Liddell16 December 2024 13:00

Who is Karen Friedman Agnifilo?

Luigi Mangione has retained a top New York attorney for his legal defense in connection with the shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

The Independent understands that Karen Friedman Agnifilo has been officially retained to represent Mangione, 26, in New York, after the executive, 50, was gunned down outside the New York Hilton in Midtown Manhattan on 4 December.

Here, The Independent takes a look at what we know about Ms Agnifilo:

Who is Karen Friedman Agnifilo? Top New York attorney Luigi Mangione retained

Mangione faces second-degree murder charge over shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson

Michelle Del Rey16 December 2024 12:00

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