New Luigi Mangione charges accuse him of murder, terrorism in 'well-planned' CEO killing

Luigi Mangione, the man accused of fatally shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson earlier this month, is facing upgraded murder charges in New York, officials announced on Tuesday.

Mangione, 26, was charged with one count of first-degree murder in furtherance of terrorism and two counts of second-degree murder, including a count of murder in the second degree as an act of terrorism.

The charges from a grand jury stem from "the brazen, targeted and premeditated shooting of Brian Thompson," Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said at a news conference.

Bragg said the crime "in its most basic terms, was a killing that was intended to evoke terror."

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"Our work will never be able to undo the fact that a life was lost," Bragg said. "This was a frightening, well-planned, targeted murder that was intended to cause shock and attention and intimidation."

Thompson was fatally shot on the morning of Dec. 4 in Midtown Manhattan, leading to a nearly weeklong manhunt that ended in Altoona, Pennsylvania, when Mangione was spotted at a McDonald's.

Mangione faces up to life in prison for the first-degree murder charge, and 25 years to life for the second-degree charges, Bragg said. He also faces a slew of weapons and other charges.

He is expected to appear in court Thursday morning in Pennsylvania for a preliminary hearing on his charges, followed by an extradition hearing, Bragg said.

Mangione, an Ivy League graduate, has retained prominent New York attorney Karen Friedman Agnifilo, a veteran of the Manhattan District Attorney's office. She did not immediately return a request for comment on Tuesday.

(This story has been updated to add new information and a new video.)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: New Luigi Mangione charges accuse him of murder, terrorism