Justice comes swiftly for an accused assassin as Attorney General Pam Bondi directs prosecutors to pursue the death penalty.
26-year-old Luigi Mangione faces federal charges in the shocking December killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
Bondi’s demand marks the first federal death penalty case under the Trump administration’s second term.
A New York grand jury has indicted Mangione on four federal charges—two counts of stalking, a firearms offense, and murder through the use of a firearm.
The charges stem from the December 4, 2024, killing of Thompson, who was shot outside the Hilton in Midtown Manhattan while walking to an investors conference.
Evidence suggests the assassination was carefully planned. Authorities report Mangione used a fake ID to stay in New York and left shell casings at the scene.
The shell casings were engraved with words like “delay,” “deny,” and “depose” written on them—an apparent message to the healthcare industry.
When captured at a Pennsylvania McDonald’s five days after the shooting, Mangione had a 3D-printed ghost gun with a suppressor, believed to be the murder weapon.
Bondi has made it clear that the Biden-era moratorium on federal executions is officially over.
“I have directed federal prosecutors to seek the death penalty in this case as we carry out President Trump’s agenda to stop violent crime and Make America Safe Again,” she stated.
“The president’s directive was very clear: We are to seek the death penalty when possible,” Bondi added.
The indictment comes after Mangione already pleaded not guilty to 11 charges in New York and four in Pennsylvania.
The New York charges are particularly severe, including first-degree murder in furtherance of terrorism and weapons charges.
The federal charges now guarantee that if convicted, Mangione could face the ultimate punishment.
While investigators have not established a clear motive for the killing, officials believe Thompson was specifically targeted.
UnitedHealthcare is the largest private health insurance company in the United States. The case has sparked a national discussion about the privatized healthcare system in America.
In response to Bondi’s calls, Mangione’s attorneys have filed motions to remove the death penalty option.
Defense attorney Karen Friedman Agnifilo called the decision “political,” claiming it “goes against the recommendation of the local federal prosecutors, the law, and historical precedent.”
The defense team has even gone so far as to characterize the Justice Department’s pursuit of the death penalty as “barbaric.”
The case will now proceed to trial, with a judge assigned to oversee motions, disputes, and potentially a death penalty phase.
