Luigi Mangione charged with first-degree murder of healthcare CEO as ‘an act of terrorism’

Luigi Mangione has been charged with first-degree murder as an act of terrorism in the killing of healthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

The 26-year-old, originally from Maryland, was initially arrested earlier this month when an employee in a Pennsylvania McDonald's identified him on 9 December.

Police were called to the eatery and found items linking him to the murder, such as a gun, a mask, and various writings.

"Responding officers questioned the suspect, who was acting suspiciously and was carrying multiple fraudulent IDs, as well as a U.S. passport," New York City Police Department (NYPD) Commissioner Jessica Tisch said.

The Ivy League graduate has since been held at a Pennsylvania jail, and has been denied bail.

What is Luigi Mangione accused of?

Mangione is suspected of shooting Thompson, 50, outside a Hilton Hotel in Midtown Manhattan on 4 December.

The three words 'deny', 'depose' and 'defend' were engraved on the live rounds left behind from the silent gun.

"In the nearly two weeks since Mr Thompson's killing, we have seen a shocking and appalling celebration of cold-blooded murder," Ms Tisch added.

"We don't celebrate murders and we don't lionise the killing of anyone."

Speaking on the charges, which include two counts of second degree murder, New York District Attorney Alvin Bragg said: "The intent was to sow terror," calling the shooting a 'frightening, well-planned and targeted murder'.

Luigi Mangione has been charged with first-degree murder as an act of terrorism in the killing of healthcare CEO Brian Thompson (Altoona Police Department via Getty Images)

"It occurred in one of the most bustling parts of our city, threatened the safety of local residents and tourists alike, commuters and businesspeople just starting out on their day."

Mangione's next court hearing will be on 19 December and a decision will be made if he will be extradited to New York on the charges.

"We have indications the defendant may waive that hearing," Mr Bragg said.

A terrorism charge can be brought forward under New York law when a crime is 'intended to intimidate or coerce a civilian population, influence the policies of a unit of government by intimidation or coercion and affect the conduct of a unit of government by murder, assassination or kidnapping'.

Mangione has been denied bail (Jeff Swensen/Getty Images)

What do we know about Luigi Mangione?

Mangione grew up in Maryland and graduated from the private Gilman School in 2016.

He went on to graduate from the Ivy League's University of Pennsylvania with a bachelor’s and master’s degree in computer science and a minor in mathematics in 2020.

R.J. Martin, who was co-living and co-working with Mangione in a community in Hawaii, said he was 'beyond shocked' by the news.

“He was a very thoughtful person. Communicated really well, was friendly, had good relationships with everyone. He was even, in some ways, a bit of a leader,” Martin told CNN.

“When I first interviewed him, before he moved in, I remember he said he had a back issue (from a surfing accident), and he was hoping to get stronger in Hawaii.”