Luigi Mangione, CEO killing suspect, pleads not guilty to state terror and murder charges in Manhattan court

Luigi Mangione, the man suspected of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thomspon, has pleaded not guilty to state terror and murder charges in a Manhattan courtroom.

Mangione entered his plea during his Monday morning arraignment. He faces 11 counts in New York, including murder, murder as an act of terrorism and forgery. The 26-year-old faces up to life in prison if convicted.

“This was a frightening, well-planned, targeted murder that was intended to cause shock and attention and intimidation,” Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said last week.

“This was a killing that was intended to evoke terror and we’ve seen that reaction,” he added. “This was not an ordinary killing. Not to suggest that any killing is ordinary, but this was extraordinary.”

The suspected killer was also charged at the federal level with murder through use of a firearm, a gun offense and two counts of stalking. While New York does not have capital punishment, federal prosecutors could pursue the death penalty.

In addition, he faces charges in Pennsylvania related to officials’ alleged discovery of a 3D-printed gun and fake ID in his possession when he was arrested.

Mangione’s attorney, Karen Friedman Agnifilo, condemned the federal case last week.

“The federal government’s reported decision to pile on top of an already overcharged first-degree murder and state terror case is highly unusual and raises serious constitutional and statutory double jeopardy concerns,” Agnifilo said in a statement. “We are ready to fight these charges in whatever court they are brought.”

More to come…