Suspect in US CEO’s murder to face death penalty – DW – 12/20/2024
The 26-year-old man accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson appeared in Manhattan court Thursday to face new federal charges of stalking and murder, which could carry the death penalty if convicted.
Luigi M. is already facing state murder and terrorism charges brought by New York prosecutors, for which, if convicted, he faces life in prison without parole.
He was arrested in Pennsylvania in December. After five days of searching.
The suspect was first extradited to New York under heavy police guard under the supervision of Mayor Eric Adams.
The accused, shackled at the ankles, said little during the 15-minute proceeding in a packed federal courtroom, except nodding as he was informed of his rights and charges, occasionally speaking into a microphone to tell the magistrate judge That he understood.
‘The suspect carefully planned the attack’
Luigi M. was arrested in Pennsylvania following a nationwide manhunt for the killer of a health care executive, a case that took America by surprise.
At the time of his arrest, prosecutors said he had the gun used to kill Thompson, a passport, fake ID and some money.
Federal prosecutors allege that Luigi M meticulously planned the attack. The federal complaint says he also had a notebook containing handwritten pages expressing hostility toward the health insurance industry and wealthy executives.
UnitedHealthcare, America’s largest health insurer, said Luigi M. was never a customer.
His New York defense attorney, Karen Friedman Agnifilo, said he was “extremely accused” and vowed to fight the charges in court.
‘Luigi freed us’
Outside the Manhattan Courthouse, a small crowd of supporters stood waving signs condemning the health insurance industry.
Some people on the posters wrote, “Health over wealth” and “Luigi set us free.”
The case has fascinated the American public as Thompson’s murder has sparked debate about health care practices in America.
It has highlighted public anger toward the health care industry, in a country where about 500,000 people file for personal bankruptcy each year because of medical debt.
*Editor’s note: DW follows the German press code, which emphasizes the importance of protecting the privacy of suspected perpetrators or victims and obliges us to avoid revealing full names in such cases.
ss/lo (AP, AFP, Reuters)