A federal grand jury has indicted Luigi Mangione, the man accused of killing a top UnitedHealth executive in New York last year, paving the way for prosecutors to seek the death penalty.
Mangione, 26, is already facing state-level murder and firearms charges in New York — a state that does not allow capital punishment. But the new federal indictment, filed Thursday, significantly raises the stakes. It does not add new charges, but it formally enables the U.S. Department of Justice to pursue the death penalty.
Mangione has pleaded not guilty. His lawyers have not responded to media inquiries, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Manhattan declined to comment. A federal hearing is set for Friday.
The indictment outlines probable cause for charges of murder, stalking, and weapons possession, tied to the December 4 shooting of Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealth’s insurance arm. Thompson was shot outside a Midtown Manhattan hotel just hours before the company’s investor conference.
Attorney General Pam Bondi announced on April 1 that the Justice Department would seek the death penalty — a move Mangione’s legal team has called “unapologetically political.” In a court filing last week, they urged the judge to block the pursuit of capital punishment, arguing it violates federal protocols.
If the bid fails and Mangione is convicted, a second phase of the trial would determine whether the death penalty is imposed. That decision would require unanimous agreement from the jury.
The case shocked the business and political world and triggered a five-day nationwide manhunt. Public officials condemned the violence, but online reactions were mixed. Some internet users cast Mangione as a misguided symbol, claiming his actions highlighted anger over soaring healthcare costs and insurer power.
UnitedHealth has not commented on the developments. Mangione remains in federal custody in Brooklyn.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington could destroy Iran’s infrastructure “in two days,” while Tehran warned the U.S. would...
Children laughed, applauded and watched wide-eyed as animated characters lit up the screen at the opening of the ninth Animafilm International Anim...
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran has “no trust” in the United States and will only consider negotiations if Was...
Georgia is positioning itself as a future energy bridge between the Caspian and Europe, backed by major infrastruc...
Uzbekistan’s Department for Combating Economic Crimes says it has uncovered a ...
Children laughed, applauded and watched wide-eyed as animated characters lit up the screen at the opening of the ninth Animafilm International Animation Festival in Baku, where filmmakers and audiences from around the world gathered to celebrate the growing influence of animated cinema.
Georgia is positioning itself as a future energy bridge between the Caspian and Europe, backed by major infrastructure plans and growing EU support. But behind the ambitious pitch lies a far more complicated political reality.
Uzbekistan’s Department for Combating Economic Crimes says it has uncovered a large-scale fraud and corruption scheme linked to labour migration to South Korea, with estimated damages reaching $90 million.
Russia and Ukraine exchanged prisoners of war as well as the bodies of fallen soldiers, on Friday (15 May). The swap came as Ukranian officials said Moscow had carried out its largest aerial attack over 48 hours since the conflict started.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran has “no trust” in the United States and will only consider negotiations if Washington shows seriousness. His remarks came as talks on Iran’s nuclear programme continued, with Trump and Xi also opposing Iran acquiring nuclear weapons.
The U.S.-Israeli war with Iran loomed over U.S. President Donald Trump's visit to China, as signs emerged that the conflict is causing a shift in alliances across the Middle East.
Ukraine has stepped up attacks on Russian energy facilities in recent months, amid stalled progress in peace negotiations. The strikes have targeted refineries, processing plants, pipelines and export infrastructure, causing repeated disruptions across Russia’s energy sector.
Thousands of fans turned out in Iran's capital Tehran for a massive farewell ceremony on Wednesday night for their national football team, wishing them success before their departure for the World Cup 2026 matches co-hosted by the United States and Mexico.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was fighting for his political survival on Thursday (14 May) after Health Secretary Wes Streeting resigned, saying he had “lost confidence” in Starmer’s leadership.
China has launched the world’s first experiment to study how artificial human embryos develop in space, marking a major step in understanding whether humans could one day reproduce beyond Earth.
Every day, an elderly woman in China’s Shandong province looks forward to a video call from her son. He asks about her health, tells her he has been busy with work, and promises he will come home once he has saved enough money. She tells him she misses him. He tells her to take care of herself.
Deep in the ancient forests of southern China, researchers have discovered a small, shy snake with an extraordinary survival trick: when threatened, it creates the illusion that it has two heads.
Egyptian authorities have unveiled two restored ancient tombs in Luxor alongside a rare artefact linked to King Tutankhamun, offering visitors new insight into life and burial practices during the New Kingdom more than 3,000 years ago.
A U.S. Department of Justice official said Washington was preparing to indict former Cuban president Raúl Castro in connection with the 1996 downing of aircraft operated by "Brothers to the Rescue", a Miami-based exile group that conducted search-and-rescue flights for Cuban migrants.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment