Luigi Mangione won a significant legal victory when a federal judge dismissed a murder charge that could have led to the death penalty if he were convicted in the killing of UnitedHealth Group Inc. executive Brian Thompson.

US District Judge Margaret Garnett ruled Friday that prosecutors cannot pursue a murder charge that could have led to the death penalty if he were found guilty. The decision means the death penalty is off the table for now.

Prosecutors are expected to appeal the ruling over the shooting on Dec. 4, 2023, outside a midtown Manhattan hotel. Mangione still faces a parallel state murder case but New York does not allow capital punishment. He’s pleaded not guilty in both cases.

Garnett ruled on Friday that Mangione must still face trial on two federal stalking charges. If he is convicted, he could potentially face life in prison without possibility of parole.

“This court’s decision that they must be dismissed, is solely to foreclose the death penalty as an available punishment to be considered by the jury that will otherwise determine, at trial, whether to convict the Defendant for causing Brian Thompson’s death,” according to the judge.

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Mangione, 27, was arrested at an Altoona, Pennsylvania, McDonald’s after a five-day national manhunt. Thompson was shot as he walked to speak at an investor’s conference in New York City.

Attorney General Pam Bondi announced earlier last year that the US would seek the death penalty against Mangione for committing “a premeditated, cold-blooded assassination.” The case has drawn intense national interest and Mangione has been cheered by fans who say he expressed their rage at the health-care system.

A lawyer for Mangione didn’t have an immediate comment. A spokesman for the Manhattan US Attorney’s Office didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

A man has been arrested for allegedly impersonating an FBI agent in a bid to free Luigi Mangione, who is accused of killing United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson in 2024.

Hailing from Minnesota’s Mankato, Mark Anderson, 36, arrived at a federal jail in Brooklyn and was carrying a pizza cutter, according to a criminal complaint.

Anderson, charged in the criminal complaint in Federal District Court in Brooklyn, appeared before a judge on Thursday, but has not entered a plea, BBC reported.

While the complaint does not name Mangione, people familiar with the matter told the New York Times that Anderson was trying to free him.

Also Read: Luigi Mangione, Suspect In UnitedHealthcare CEO Murder, Was Ivy League Graduate Who Praised Unabomber

As per the criminal complaint, the accused arrived at the jail around 6:50 PM (local time) on Wednesday and introduced himself as an FBI agent to the jail officials. He claimed to have paperwork “signed by a judge”, authorising the release of a jail inmate.

When officers asked him for credentials, Anderson provided a Minnesota driver’s license and claimed to be in possession of weapons. He then started throwing various documents at the officials. The complaint highlights that the documents were related to suing the US Justice Department.

He was then detained by the officials who later searched his bag and found a pizza cutter along with a barbecue fork. Anderson is said to have been working at a pizzeria in New York.

Anderson now faces a charge of impersonating an officer.

Mangione, 27, has continued to receive support ever since he was arrested in the murder case of the health care executive. Several people have contributed to his legal defense fund and even sent him letters, books and personal photographs at the Metropolitan Detention Centre. 

As of Thursday, his defense fund had collected nearly $1.4 million.

Brian Thompson, the chief executive of UnitedHealthcare, was assassinated by Mangione in Manhattan in 2024. Mangione has been charged with murder in both federal and state courts. The case captured widespread attention after a viral video highlighted a man wearing a mask walking behind Thompson and shooting him.

Authorities have claimed that Mangione waited outside a Hilton hotel in Midtown Manhattan for about an hour when Thompson arrived there for a UnitedHealthcare investors’ day gathering. 

Mangione immediately left the city and scattered his belongings across the city. He was finally taken into custody at a McDonalds in Pennsylvania’s Altoona after a multi-state manhunt. Post that, he was extradited to New York.

Luigi Mangione. File
| Photo Credit: Reuters

File image of Luigi Mangione, 26, a suspect in the New York City killing of UnitedHealth executive Brian Thompson.
| Photo Credit: Reuters

Luigi Mangione, the suspect in the ambush killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, has expressed gratitude to those who have written to him while he is being held in a New York City detention facility. In a statement posted on a website created by his defense team, Mangione acknowledged the outpouring of support he has received, saying,”I am overwhelmed by – and grateful for – everyone who has written me to share their stories and express their support. Powerfully, this support has transcended political, racial, and even class divisions, as mail has flooded MDC from across the country, and around the globe. While it is impossible for me to reply to most letters, please know that I read every one that I receive. Thank you again to everyone who took the time to write. I look forward to hearing more in the future.”

LUIGI HAS MADE A PUBLIC STATEMENT YALL. Please read the pictures for detail! Website: https://t.co/nwOMMFXhZg pic.twitter.com/BHDxXgNkeb

— DeLulu (@In_LuigiWeTrust) February 14, 2025

Mangione’s statement is his first public comment since his arrest in December. He is currently facing charges of first-degree murder in furtherance of terrorism and other counts in connection with Thompson’s killing. The CEO was shot from behind while walking on a Manhattan sidewalk on December 4.

The killing has been widely condemned by officials, including Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who stated that “this type of premeditated, targeted gun violence cannot and will not be tolerated.” Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro also criticised those who have suggested that Mangione was justified in the killing, saying, “In some dark corners, this killer is being hailed as a hero. Hear me on this: He is no hero.”

Mangione is also facing charges in Pennsylvania, where he was arrested on December 9. He is accused of using a “ghost gun” with a suppressor to carry out the killing. The investigation found that the words “deny,” “depose,” and “delay” were written on two spent shell casings and a bullet found at the scene.

Mangione has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him. His defense team has created a website to provide information about his cases and to dispel misinformation. The website includes a message from Mangione’s attorneys, stating that the site was created to provide accurate information and to answer frequently asked questions.

Supporters of Mangione have crowdfunded nearly $400,000 to support his legal team. His next court date is scheduled for February 21 in Manhattan.

It is worth noting that UnitedHealthcare is the largest private insurer in the country, and writings found on Mangione when he was arrested detailed his grievances with the healthcare system. However, authorities have stated that neither Mangione nor anyone in his family were insured by UnitedHealthcare.

The case has sparked widespread interest and debate, with many questioning the motives behind Mangione’s actions.

Police investigating the shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on December 4, 2024, have announced that the suspected assailant had used a 3D-printed gun. Several high-profile crimes in recent years have involved this kind of homemade, or partially homemade, weapon.

Often called “ghost guns” because they can be hard to trace, these firearms can be either partially or completely made with components that have been produced in metal or plastic on commercially available 3D printers. The U.S. Supreme Court is considering the legality of current federal restrictions on these firearms.

The first known criminal case involving a 3D-printed gun resulted in the arrest of a U.K. man in 2013. But since then, police worldwide have reported finding increasing numbers of these weapons.

My research focuses on the economic and social effects of advanced digital technologies, including 3D printing. I see that the use of 3D-printed guns in criminal and violent activities is likely to continue to increase. And it will likely prove ever harder for governments and police to regulate these firearms.

Surge in arrests and seizures

Arrests and seizures connected to 3D-printed guns are escalating quickly. Between 2017 and 2021, U.S. law enforcement agencies seized and reported nearly 38,000 suspected ghost guns, according to a 2024 report from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. In 2021 alone, 19,273 suspected ghost guns were traced, a significant increase from 8,504 in 2020. The number of seized 3D-printed guns in New York state alone surged dramatically, from 100 in 2019 to 637 in 2022.

Arrests linked to 3D-printed guns are also rising. The world recorded 108 arrests in the first half of 2023, compared to 66 arrests in all 2022.

North America leads in 3D-printed gun-related arrests, with 166 cases from 2013 to June 2023. Europe followed with 48 arrests, while Oceania ranked third with 24 arrests.

The U.S. is a particular hot spot, with 36% of total global arrests related to 3D-printed firearms in 2023. But Canada is close behind, with 34%. The U.K. had 10%, and Australia had 8%.

Growing global security threat

Police and media reports indicate that many efforts to acquire or manufacture 3D-printed firearms were connected to plans for violent actions.

These guns have been used by diverse groups including far-right extremists, ethno-separatists, jihadists, left-wing anarchists, organized crime groups in Europe and pro-democracy rebels in Myanmar.

From 2019 to mid-2022, there were at least nine documented cases in Europe and Australia of extremists, terrorists or paramilitary groups either producing or attempting to produce firearms using 3D-printing technology. An analysis of 165 cases of 3D-printed firearms from 2013 to mid-2024 reveals that 15% were linked to terrorism. Far-right groups appear to be the most frequent users among terrorism-related cases.

A widely varied legal landscape

Often, 3D-printed guns are homemade firearms without serial numbers. This lack of identification makes them attractive to criminals because it is harder for law enforcement to link specific guns to particular crimes or suspects. Different countries take very different approaches to regulating these weapons.

Japan enforces stringent laws governing the manufacture, possession and sales of firearms. Its legal system strictly prohibits unauthorized firearm production, including 3D-printed guns. In 2014, a 28-year-old Japanese man was sentenced to two years in prison for producing plastic 3D-printed firearms.

In 2023, Canada effectively banned ghost guns. It is illegal to possess or manufacture them without a license from the government.

In Australia, making a 3D-printed firearm is illegal, and in some states, possessing a digital blueprint to create one is also an offense. In the state of New South Wales, a person convicted of possessing blueprints can face up to 14 years in prison. In Tasmania state, the punishment can be even more severe – up to 21 years in prison.

Across the European Union, making or owning homemade firearms, including 3D-printed ones, is broadly prohibited. However, laws and penalties vary, with some nations criminalizing even the possession of digital files or blueprints related to 3D-printing guns.

In the U.K., where firearms are very restricted, 3D-printed guns have been considered illegal. But in November 2022, the government updated the laws to specifically ban possessing, buying or producing parts for 3D-printed guns. The proposal aims to explicitly ban 3D-printed guns, addressing their unique challenges directly, rather than relying on existing laws designed for traditional firearms. The U.K. National Crime Agency has called for a ban on possessing blueprints as well, and Parliament is currently considering two bills proposing such a ban.

Federal rules in the US

The U.S. Constitution poses some unique challenges to regulating ghost guns, especially for the federal government, but also for states.

For regular firearms – that is, those not produced by 3D printing – U.S. federal law requires that a key component, called the lower receiver, bear a unique serial number. Purchasing a lower receiver requires a federal background check and conducting the transaction through a merchant who holds a Federal Firearms License.

The situation is more complicated when it comes to 3D printing weapons. The First Amendment to the Constitution protects freedom of expression, which includes sharing digital files that could contain firearm designs. And the Second Amendment protects citizens’ right to bear arms.

In the U.S., selling 3D-printed firearms requires a federal license. But producing or owning homemade firearms for personal use is allowed. That includes 3D-printing the lower receiver component, and assembling the rest of the weapon with unregulated parts.

Current federal law, under review by the Supreme Court, also requires 3D-printed guns meet specific guidelines, even if they do not contain any currently regulated firearms components. Under the rule, makers of ghost gun kits must obtain a federal license, conduct background checks, record information about their customers and add serial numbers to their products.

The type of weapon also matters when determining the legality of a 3D-printed firearm. Automatic weapons, or machine guns, can continue to fire ammunition as long as the user holds the trigger down. These weapons have been heavily regulated by federal law for almost 90 years.

Criminals have used 3D printers to produce “Glock switches” or auto-sears, which convert semi-automatic firearms into fully automatic machine guns. That turns those items into machine guns under federal law, making them illegal. Owning this kind of 3D-printed conversion device can lead to a maximum of 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.

In the states

The states can also regulate firearms, and many are trying to get control of 3D-printed guns.

By November 2024, 15 U.S. states had established regulations on ghost guns, though exact requirements vary. The rules typically require a serial number, background checks for firearm component purchases and reporting to authorities that a person is producing 3D-printed guns.

For instance, in New Jersey, a 2019 law mandates that all ghost guns have a serial number and be registered. Under current New York law, possession or distribution of a 3D-printed gun is classified as a misdemeanor. However, a proposed law seeks to elevate the manufacturing of firearms using 3D-printing technology to a felony offense.

As technology advances and rules evolve, criminals who use 3D-printed firearms will continue to pose threats to public safety and security, and governments will continue playing catch-up to effectively regulate these weapons.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here.

The shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in December 2024, where a 3D-printed gun was used, highlights the escalating threat of these untraceable “ghost guns.”

These firearms, made partially or entirely with commercially available 3D printers, are increasingly appearing in criminal activity, posing significant challenges for law enforcement and policymakers worldwide. The U.S. Supreme Court is currently reviewing the legality of federal restrictions on these weapons.

The first documented criminal case involving a 3D-printed gun occurred in the UK in 2013. Since then, their prevalence has grown rapidly. Between 2017 and 2021, U.S. law enforcement seized nearly 38,000 suspected ghost guns, according to a 2024 US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives report.

In 2021 alone, over 19,000 were traced, a sharp rise from just over 8,500 in 2020. New York state saw a dramatic increase from 100 seizures in 2019 to 637 in 2022. Arrests are also on the rise, with 108 globally in the first half of 2023, compared to 66 in all of 2022.

North America leads in 3D-printed gun-related arrests (166 from 2013 to June 2023), followed by Europe (48) and Oceania (24). The U.S. accounts for 36% of global arrests in 2023, closely followed by Canada (34%). The UK and Australia represent 10% and 8% respectively.

According to a report in The Conversation, these weapons have been linked to a wide range of groups, including far-right extremists, ethno-separatists, jihadists, left-wing anarchists, organised crime, and pro-democracy rebels. From 2019 to mid-2022, at least nine cases in Europe and Australia involved extremists, terrorists, or paramilitary groups attempting or succeeding in producing 3D-printed firearms. Analysis of 165 cases from 2013 to mid-2024 shows that 15% were terrorism-related, with far-right groups being the most frequent users.

The lack of serial numbers on these homemade weapons makes them difficult to trace, a key attraction for criminals. Global regulatory approaches vary significantly.

Japan strictly prohibits unauthorised firearm production, including 3D-printed guns, with severe penalties. Canada effectively banned ghost guns in 2023, requiring licenses for possession or manufacture. Australia criminalises both making and, in some states, possessing blueprints for 3D-printed firearms, with potential prison sentences of up to 21 years. The EU broadly prohibits making or owning homemade firearms, with varying laws and penalties, including criminalising possession of digital files. The UK recently updated its laws to specifically ban possessing, buying, or producing parts for 3D-printed guns, and is considering banning blueprint possession.

In the U.S., the Second Amendment and First Amendment pose unique regulatory challenges. While selling 3D-printed firearms requires a federal license, producing or owning them for personal use is permitted, including 3D-printing the lower receiver. Current federal law, under Supreme Court review, requires 3D-printed gun kits to meet specific guidelines, including licensing, background checks, and serial numbers. Converting semi-automatic firearms into automatic weapons using 3D-printed “Glock switches” is illegal and carries significant penalties.

State-level regulations are also emerging. By November 2024, 15 U.S. states had implemented regulations on ghost guns, typically requiring serial numbers, background checks, and reporting of 3D-printed firearm production. For example, New Jersey mandates serial numbers and registration, while New York is considering making 3D-printed firearm manufacturing a felony.

As 3D printing technology advances, the challenge of regulating these weapons and mitigating the threat they pose to public safety will likely intensify.
 

“Hell on Earth” is how Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) is described. And who else could one expect to share it other than Sean “Diddy” Combs, Sam Bankman-Fried and the newly infamous – Luigi Mangione.

It is also the only operating federal detention center in New York.

Apart from sharing the same prison, Combs and Mangione coincidentally share the same lawyer. Marc Agnifilo, who represents Combs, will also defend Mangione in his upcoming trial. On Sunday, Agnifilo and his wife, Karen Friedman Agnifilo announced their involvement in Mangione’s case and in a press statement, Karen Agnifilo said, “Mangione appreciates everyone’s support.”

Mangione is an accused in the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson who was arrested in Penssylvania after a five-day search and brought to New York and Combs has been held amid a flurry of sexual assault lawsuits.

Metropolitan Detention Center is fabled for its difficult conditions and is notorious even among wardens. It is depicted as one of the most “troubled” facilities in the Bureau of Prisons, with issues ranging from overcrowding, violence, rodent infestations, and deteriorating infrastructure.

Apart from these high-profile cases, Mexican cartel figure Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada will also be housed at Metropolitan Detention Center.

Mangione faces federal charges of murder by firearm and death penalty could be on the table although New York abolished capital punishment in 2004. However, Mangione could become the first person in decades to face execution if the state decides to move forward with it. His next court appearance is scheduled for January 18, 2025.

Executives believe Mangione murdered Brian Thompson of UnitedHealthcare because of pent-up frustrations with the company. When he was arrested, officials found a manifesto that praised filmmaker Michael Moore’s critique of the healthcare system among other things such as fake ids, a U.S. passport and other writings about the healthcare system.

As of now, Mangione faces both state and federal murder charges. The state charges are delineated as murder and act of terrorism. Additionally he faces weapons and forgery charges in Pennsylvania where he pleads not guilty.

It is interesting to note that the words “deny,” “depose” and “defend” were written on bullet shell casings found at the murder scene. It is a reference to the three D’s of the insurance world – Delay, Deny, Defend, the way in which insurance companies move to reject requests for medical coverage deemed necessary by doctors.
 

New York, United States:

US authorities on Tuesday charged the man suspected of gunning down a health insurance CEO in New York earlier this month with murder, including a charge of second-degree murder “as an act of terrorism.”

Mangione, 26, is accused of shooting UnitedHealthcare chief executive Brian Thompson on a Manhattan street on December 4, triggering a nationwide manhunt that ended last week when he was spotted at a Pennsylvania McDonald’s.

The former data engineer remains jailed in that state as he fights efforts to extradite him to New York to face charges there over the killing, which brought into focus widespread public anger against the US health care system.

Mangione “is charged with one count of murder in the first degree and two counts of murder in the second degree, including one count of murder in the second degree as an act of terrorism,” said Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg.

Bragg said the terrorism charge was included because the shooting met the prerequisites for such a determination under New York law.

“In its most basic terms, this was a killing that was intended to evoke terror and we’ve seen that reaction,” he said. “This was not an ordinary killing.”

The maximum penalty for the murder charges Mangione faces is life in prison without parole, Bragg said.

The suspect was also charged with several crimes related to his possession of a weapon, which authorities said was a 3D-printed “ghost gun.”

“We allege he… took out a nine-millimeter 3D-printed ghost gun equipped with a 3D-printed suppressor and shot (Thompson) once in the back and once in the leg,” said Bragg.

“These weapons are increasingly proliferating throughout New York City and the entire country. Evolving technology will only make this problem worse,” he said.

“Last year, over 80 ghost guns and ghost gun parts were recovered in Manhattan alone.”

‘Shocking and appalling’

In the wake of Thompson’s killing, many social media users have lionized Mangione, with some even calling for further killings of other CEOs.

Jessica Tisch, the New York City police commissioner, criticized members of the public who had praised the murder.

“In the nearly two weeks since Mr Thompson’s killing, we have seen a shocking and appalling celebration of cold-blooded murder,” said Tisch.

Mangione is due in Pennsylvania court on Thursday for a hearing on his extradition to New York.

Police say a “life-changing, life-altering” back injury may have motivated Mangione, although they added that there was “no indication” that he was ever a client of UnitedHealthcare.

When he was arrested, Mangione had a three-page handwritten text criticizing the US health care system.

Police have said that Mangione’s fingerprints matched those found near the crime scene, and that shell casings match the gun found on him when he was arrested.

Bragg said that the suspect traveled to New York on November 24 with the intention of murdering Thompson.

On December 4, he is alleged to have waited “for nearly an hour” outside the hotel where Thompson was shot early that morning.

“This was a frightening, well planned, targeted murder that was intended to cause shock and attention and intimidation,” said district attorney Bragg.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Karen Friedman-Agnifilo graduated from the University of California.