June 18, 2025 New York, NY – In a development that ratchets up the stakes considerably, a federal grand jury in New York has handed down a four-count indictment against Luigi Mangione, the man accused of gunning down UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson last December. The charges now include murder through the use of a firearm, a count that opens the door for federal prosecutors to pursue the death penalty if Mangione is convicted.

Mangione faces two counts of stalking, a firearms offense, and the murder charge. He stands accused of stalking Thompson outside the Midtown Manhattan Hilton on December 4, 2024, before allegedly shooting him to death as Thompson was en route to an investors' conference. The dramatic manhunt concluded five days later with Mangione's arrest in Altoona, Pennsylvania.

His arraignment in Manhattan federal court is set for April 25. But the legal battle lines are already sharply drawn. Attorney General Pam Bondi has made her intentions clear, signaling a push for the ultimate punishment. In a press release earlier this month, Bondi explicitly linked her directive to "carry out President Trump’s agenda to stop violent crime and Make America Safe Again."

This aggressive stance has ignited immediate controversy. Defense attorney Karen Friedman Agnifilo wasted no time, filing a motion last week arguing that Bondi's pre-indictment statement was improper and "prejudiced the grand jury process." Agnifilo is not only seeking to block the government from pursuing the death penalty but also demanding access to all documents and notes related to the Attorney General's directive.

"The stakes could not be higher," the defense argued bluntly in their motion. "The United States government intends to kill Mr. Mangione as a political stunt."

Beyond the federal charges, Mangione is also facing state charges in connection with the shooting, to which he has pleaded not guilty. This case, already a high-profile tragedy, is now poised to become a significant legal and political battleground over the very nature of justice.