Manhattan DA vows accountability in UnitedHealthcare CEO homicide case

In his first feedback since Luigi Mangione was charged with second-degree homicide on Monday, Manhattan District Lawyer Alvin Bragg mentioned he was assured that the 26-year-old would shortly be extradited to New York the place he will likely be held accountable for openly gunning down UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

“We are going to get the defendant right here and produce him to justice via our court docket continuing,” Bragg instructed ABC Information on Wednesday, saying that Mangione might face further expenses past the second-degree homicide expenses he presently faces.

“As we be taught extra about motives and different issues like that … there could also be further expenses,” Bragg mentioned.

Mangione can be charged in New York with legal possession of a solid instrument and a number of other counts of legal possession of a weapon.

“We intend to be taught extra, and we’ve plenty of issues to do,” Bragg mentioned. “As issues go ahead, there could also be further expenses to carry,” Bragg mentioned.

Mangione’s lawyer, Thomas Dickey, mentioned his consumer intends to plead not responsible to the costs, claiming there isn’t any proof linking his consumer to the crime. Bragg mentioned he was assured Mangione is the one that fired three rounds into the torso of Thompson final week, killing the well being care govt and setting off a firestorm of vitriol on-line.

“We’d not cost the individual if we did not suppose it was the individual, and we’re ready to go ahead and we’re on the trail to accountability and justice,” Bragg mentioned.

As soon as the previous Ivy Leaguer is extradited to New York, Bragg mentioned Mangione will face a workforce of Manhattan’s most seasoned murder prosecutors. The DA acknowledged that the character of the alleged crime is “terribly scary.”

“It is vitally scary, and it’s one thing that has the eye of so many who dwell right here, so many who come to work right here, and rightfully so,” Bragg mentioned.

Bragg’s feedback come the identical day that the New York Police Division provided the primary forensic proof linking Mangione to the alleged crime. Based on Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, fingerprints from the crime scene have been matched to Mangione, and three shell casings recovered following the midtown capturing have been matched to Mangione’s 3D-printed handgun. Bragg’s workplace mentioned his workplace has centered on combating so-called ghost weapons for the reason that starting of his tenure as district lawyer.

“It is one thing we’re seeing an increasing number of in use, talking usually. It is one thing additionally we have seen people who find themselves youthful and youthful engaged on,” Bragg mentioned.

Requested why Mangione was charged with second-degree homicide, Bragg instructed ABC Information that prosecutors wished to carry expenses shortly and first-degree homicide “has quite a few delineated circumstances.”

“Homicide 2 is the intentional killing of an individual, punishable by 25 years to life below New York regulation,” Bragg mentioned. “Homicide 1 has quite a few delineated circumstances, together with, for instance, a serial homicide, homicide of a witness, homicide of a police officer.”

Bragg has discovered himself on the middle of a number of high-profile circumstances — together with his conviction of former President Donald Trump and up to date acquittal of Marine veteran Daniel Penny. With the Mangione case, Bragg is anticipated to face not solely a high-profile prosecution but additionally a groundswell of public assist for the accused assassin,.

“I … have hung out with households of murder victims with survivors of violent crime,” Bragg mentioned. “That is the centerpiece of our work, and to suppose that there are others celebrating this conduct is past comprehension to me.”

Mangione, a 26-year-old Ivy League graduate, is accused of capturing Thompson outdoors a Midtown Manhattan resort on Dec. 4 whereas the CEO was heading to an traders convention.

Thompson’s homicide ignited on-line anger on the medical insurance trade and a few individuals on-line have celebrated the suspect.

“Celebrating homicide is abhorrent,” Bragg mentioned. “I sit throughout the desk from households who’ve had a beloved one killed. And to consider individuals celebrating that … is past comprehension to me.”

“What I might say to members of the general public … [who are] celebrating this and possibly considering different motion: We will likely be vigilant and we are going to maintain individuals accountable,” Bragg mentioned.

The ghost gun allegedly in Mangione’s possession when he was arrested has been matched to 3 shell casings recovered on the homicide scene, based on the NYPD.

Fingerprints recovered from a water bottle and a Variety bar close to the crime scene have additionally been matched to Mangione, police mentioned.

Mangione was apprehended in Altoona, Pennsylvania, on Monday after almost one week on the run. He is additionally going through expenses in Pennsylvania, together with allegedly possessing an untraceable ghost gun.

Mangione plans to problem his extradition to New York.

The Manhattan District Lawyer’s Workplace mentioned it is going to search a governor’s warrant to attempt to drive Mangione’s extradition. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul mentioned in a press release that she’ll signal a request for the governor’s warrant “to make sure this particular person is tried and held accountable.”