Luigi Mangione heads to court to face federal charges as prosecutors file notice they’ll seek death penalty

Luigi Mangione, the 26-year-old accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, is expected to appear in federal court Friday to face charges of stalking and murder.

Luigi Mangione, the 26-year-old accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, is expected to appear in federal court Friday to enter a plea on charges of stalking and murder. The court appearance comes about a week after a federal grand jury indicted Mangione on four federal charges in the December 4 killing of the insurance executive. The targeted shooting of Thompson, who was on his way to a UnitedHealthcare investors’ conference in New York, has led to an outpouring of support for Mangione from people with deep frustration and anger at the American for-profit health care system. Mangione’s last court appearance in February drew a sizable contingent of supporters, many of whom wore green in solidarity – a reference to Nintendo’s “Luigi” character – and stood outside holding signs reading “Free Luigi” and “Health care is a human right.” Mangione’s top federal charge, murder through use of a firearm, could land him a death sentence or life in prison, according to the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. The Justice Department filed a notice Thursday saying it intends to seek the death penalty, weeks after Attorney General Pam Bondi directed the office to seek the punishment. He also faces state charges in New York and Pennsylvania related to the shooting and ensuing weeklong manhunt.