In his first comments since Luigi Mangione was charged Monday with second-degree murder, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said he was confident the 26-year-old would be quickly extradited to New York, where he would be held accountable. brave shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
“We will bring the defendant here and bring him to justice through our legal process,” Bragg told ABC News on Wednesday, adding that Mangion could face additional charges beyond the second-degree murder charges he currently faces.
“As we learn more about the motives and other things like that … there could be additional charges,” Bragg said.
Luigi Mangione, the suspect in the slaying of UnitedHealth executive Brian Thompson, leaves after an extradition hearing at the Blair County Court House in Hollidaysburg on Dec. 10, 2024.
Eduardo Munoz/Reuters
Mangione is also charged in New York with several counts of possession of a forged instrument and possession of a weapon.
“We plan to learn more, and we have a lot to do,” Bragg said. “As things progress, we may incur additional expenses,” Bragg said.
Mangione’s attorney, Thomas Dickey, said his client plans to plead guilty to the charges, saying there is no evidence linking his client to the crime. Bragg said he was confident Mangione was the person who shot Thompson three times in the torso last week, killing the health care executive and sparking a storm of vitriol online.
“We wouldn’t have charged the person if we didn’t believe it was that person, and we’re ready to move forward and move toward accountability and justice,” Bragg said.
After the former Ivy Leaguer is extradited to New York, Bragg said Mangion will face a team of Manhattan’s most experienced homicide prosecutors. The DA has admitted that the nature of the alleged crime is “extremely appalling”.
“It’s very scary, and it’s something that has the attention of many who live here, the attention of many who come to work here, and rightfully so,” Bragg said.
Bragg’s comments come the same day the New York Police Department offered the first forensic evidence linking Mangione to the alleged crime. According to Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, fingerprints from the crime scene were matched to Mangione, and three shell casings recovered after the downtown shooting were matched to Mangione’s 3D printed gun. Bragg’s office said his office has been focused on fighting so-called ghost guns since he began his tenure as district attorney.
“It’s something we’re using more and more, generally speaking. It’s also something we’ve seen younger and younger people working on,” Bragg said.
When asked if Mangione was charged with second-degree murder, Bragg told ABC News that prosecutors wanted to bring charges quickly and that first-degree murder “has some specific circumstances.”
“Murder 2 is the intentional killing of a person, punishable under New York law by 25 years to life,” Bragg said. “Murder 1 is defined by various circumstances, including, for example, a serial murder, the murder of a witness, the murder of a police officer.”
Luigi Mangione is seen in this undated photo from his account on X.
Via
Bragg has found himself at the center of multiple high-profile cases, including the conviction of former President Donald Trump and the acquittal of Marine veteran Daniel Penny. With the Mangione case, Bragg is expected to not only face a high-profile indictment, but also an outpouring of public support for the accused killer.
“I … have spent time with families of homicide victims and survivors of violent crimes,” Bragg said. “That is the focus of our work, and it is incomprehensible to me to think that there are others who celebrate this behavior.”
Mangione, a 26-year-old Ivy League graduateOn Dec. 4, Thompson is accused of shooting outside a Midtown Manhattan hotel while the CEO was on his way to an investor conference.
Thompson’s killing sparked online outrage against the health insurance industry and some people online have celebrated the suspect.
“Celebrating the kill is terrible,” Bragg said. “I sit across the table from families who have lost a loved one. And to think of people celebrating that … it’s beyond comprehension.”
Members of the NYPD’s crime unit investigate the scene outside the Hilton Hotel in midtown Manhattan where UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was shot on December 4, 2024 in New York City.
Stefan Jeremiah/AP
“What I would say to members of the public … who are celebrating this and maybe coming up with other actions is we’re going to be vigilant and hold people accountable,” Bragg said.
The ghost gun believed to be in Mangione’s possession when he was arrested, have been linked to three shell casings recovered at the scene of the murder, according to the NYPD.
Fingerprints recovered from a water bottle near the crime scene and from a Kind bar were also matched to Mangione, police said.
Mangione was captured in Altoona, Pennsylvania, on Monday after nearly a week on the run. He also faces charges in Pennsylvania, including possession of an untraceable ghost gun.
This is the image of the ghost gun recovered from Luigi Mangione in Altoona, PA, law enforcement sources told ABC News.
Obtained by ABC News
Mangion plans to contest his extradition to New York.
The Manhattan District Attorney’s office said it will seek a warrant from the governor to try to compel Mangione’s extradition. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a statement that she will sign a petition for a gubernatorial order “to hold this individual accountable and prosecuted.”
