Mon Dec 23 16:22:18 UTC 2024: ## Man Accused of Killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Pleads Not Guilty to Terrorism Charge
**NEW YORK, NY** – Luigi Mangione, 26, pleaded not guilty on Monday to New York state charges that include murder as an act of terrorism in connection with the December 4th shooting death of Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealthcare. The plea was entered in a Manhattan court, days after Mangione was indicted on separate federal charges related to the same incident.
Mangione, who was arrested in Pennsylvania and extradited to New York, faces life in prison if convicted on the state charges. The federal charges, which include using a firearm to commit murder and interstate stalking, carry the potential death penalty. He has not yet entered a plea on the federal charges.
The shooting of Thompson, the CEO of the nation’s largest health insurer, has sparked a renewed debate about the US healthcare system and its high costs. While many condemn the violence, some have expressed sympathy for Mangione’s apparent anger towards the insurance industry, with his name even eliciting cheers from a Saturday Night Live audience. Social media has seen an outpouring of stories from patients detailing denied claims by insurance companies.
Police reportedly found a notebook in Mangione’s possession containing writings expressing hostility towards the health insurance industry and wealthy executives, including an October entry allegedly detailing an intent to kill an insurance company CEO. The words “Deny, Defend, Depose,” etched onto bullet casings at the crime scene, further highlight the public’s frustration with insurance company practices. A small group of Mangione supporters were present at his arraignment, with one holding a sign bearing the aforementioned phrase. The case continues.
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