(NewsNation) — Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg announced Luigi Mangione is now being indicted on one count of first-degree murder in the furtherance of terrorism in the shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
Mangione was previously indicted on second-degree murder charges and still faces two counts of second-degree murder, one for killing in an act of terrorism.
Thompson was shot outside a hotel in Manhattan as he arrived for an investor meeting. Police described the attack as targeted, and bullet casings had the words “deny,” “delay” and “depose” carved onto them.
Authorities began a search, releasing surveillance photos of a person of interest from locations around New York.
Mangione was eventually arrested at a McDonald’s in Pennsylvania. He is facing firearms charges in that state as well as the murder charges in New York.
In a press conference, authorities called the attack “brazen” and said the shooting was designed to invoke terror.
Investigators also condemned popular support for Mangione from Americans who have expressed positive views of the shooting on social media while sharing stories of health insurance claim denials and the impact those have had on their lives.
In response to a question from a reporter, one official confirmed that police had reached out to Mangione’s mother, who had said the shooting was something she “could see” him doing.
