Luigi Mangione, 26, was indicted for the murder of UnitedHealth Group executive Brian Thompson, charged with first-degree murder and terrorism. Prosecutors say the killing was a planned act to "sow terror," sparking outrage over healthcare costs and access in the U.S.

Luigi Mangione sought to "sow terror" by shooting dead UnitedHealth Group executive Brian Thompson on a Manhattan street this month, a New York prosecutor said on Tuesday in announcing Mangione had been indicted for murder.

A grand jury indicted Mangione on 11 counts, including first-degree murder and murder as a crime of terrorism, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg told reporters. Mangione, 26, would face a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted on all counts.

"This was a frightening, well-planned, targeted murder that was intended to cause shock and attention and intimidation," Bragg told reporters. "The intent was to sow terror."

Mangione, Ivy League-educated, was charged on Dec. 9 following a five-day manhunt after killing Thompson outside a Manhattan hotel before a company conference. He is currently held on gun charges in Pennsylvania, where he was arrested last week at a McDonald's restaurant in Altoona. A hearing over his extradition to New York is scheduled for Thursday.

The killing has sparked anger from Americans over healthcare costs. Shell casings found at the scene bore the words "deny," "defend," and "depose," evoking a book critical of the insurance industry.

Mangione has been celebrated in some circles, with over a thousand donations to an online fundraiser for his legal defence. New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch called any attempts to justify his alleged actions "vile," saying, "There is no heroism in what Mangione did."

Mangione reportedly suffered from chronic back pain, though it is unclear if this played a role. UnitedHealth Group confirmed Mangione was not a customer of the health insurer.

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