Federal Prosecutors Directed to Seek Death Penalty for Luigi Mangione in CEO Murder Case

Attorney General Pamela Bondi announces the decision, emphasizing the premeditated nature of the crime and its alignment with the administration's revived federal death penalty policy.

Attorney General Pamela Bondi has officially directed federal prosecutors to pursue the death penalty against Luigi Mangione for the December 2024 murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
Bondi described the killing as a premeditated political act involving substantial planning, with risks posed to bystanders during the public attack.
Mangione, 26, is accused of targeting the healthcare industry, with investigators citing a notebook that detailed his hostility toward insurance executives and plans to harm them.
The federal charges, including murder through the use of a firearm, make Mangione eligible for the death penalty if convicted, while he also faces state charges in New York.
Mangione has pleaded not guilty to state charges and has not yet entered a plea for federal charges; his next federal court appearance is scheduled for April 18, 2025.

U.S. Department of Justice