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SUSPECTED assassin Luigi Mangione could face the death penalty if he is found guilty of shooting dead a health insurance tycoon.
He faces federal charges over the death of UnitedHealthcare executive Brian Thompson which could potentially allow prosecutors to push for the ultimate sentence.
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The death penalty has been illegal in New York for decades, but federal charges mean Mangione could be tried according to national laws, the New York Times reports.
In a state case against him Mangione has been charged on 11 counts including first-degree murder and murder as a terrorist crime.
If convicted on all counts he could be looking at a mandatory sentence of life in prison without parole.
Mangione is expected to face federal charges within days, on top of his existing murder charge, law enforcement sources also told the New York Post.
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They claim part of the reason federal prosecutors are looking to take on the case is so they can ask for the death penalty.
Mangione, 26, suffered from chronic back pain that affected his daily life, according to friends and social media posts, at the time of the shooting.
His former classmates told press that Mangione was suffering from spondylolisthesis – an issue with the vertebra – and was given four screws placed deep into his spine to help with the pain.
They claim his surgery went wrong – possibly pushing him to the brink.
One source, quoting former classmates of his, said they felt the wealthy former valedictorian turned “absolutely crazy” after the operation.
Ivy League-educated Mangione was charged with murder on December 9 for the killing of Thompson outside a Manhattan hotel before a company conference.
The data engineer was caught after a five-day manhunt by a rookie cop inside a McDonald’s in Pennsylvania.
He was searched by officers who found a fake ID, a “ghost gun” similar to the one seen in CCTV footage of the killing and a manifesto lambasting the healthcare industry.
A spiral notebook was also found with to-do lists of tasks needed to pull off a brazen kill, a police source told CNN.
Several chilling notes also justified these calculated plans, the source added.
His capture followed a five-day manhunt and garnered worldwide attention – with ghoulish fans sharing their support for Mangione online.
Meanwhile Thompson’s death sparked an outpouring of anger from Americans struggling to receive and pay for medical care.
Alongside murder charges, Mangione also faces two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, one count of second-degree possession of a forged document, and one count of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon in New York.
His attorney, Thomas Dickey, has repeatedly preached his client’s innocence.
He told CNN that he hasn’t seen any evidence that Mangione is “the right guy”.
When he was hauled back into court after the initial arrest, Mangione was seen unleashing a frantic outburst at anyone within earshot.
He had to be restrained as he shouted claims that the situation was “out of touch and an insult to the intelligence of the American people”.
At least three deputies grabbed Mangione, clutching him by his neck as they shoved him into the Blair County Courthouse in Pennsylvania.
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Timeline of Brian Thompson’s murder
BRIAN Thompson, the 50-year-old CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was shot to death in Manhattan in an execution-like killing.
Here is everything we know about Thompson’s murder so far.
Monday, December 2 – Thompson travels from his home in Minnesota to New York City for an investor conference in Midtown Manhattan.
Wednesday, December 4, 6:45 am – Thompson walks from his hotel across the street to the New York Hilton Midtown and is murdered by a masked shooter. The execution was caught on surveillance, and the suspect was seen biking away toward Central Park. Cops spark a citywide search for the assassin.
11:30 am – Cops released disturbing images of the execution, offered a reward for information, and made a desperate plea for New Yorkers to keep their eyes out.
12:00 pm – Thompson’s estranged wife Paulette revealed her husband had been threatened before he was shot.
2:45 pm – Cops released more eerie images of the suspect ordering at Starbucks that partially revealed his face. The U.S. Sun confirmed the coffee shop was just two blocks away from the shooting, but it’s unclear when he stopped by.
December 5, 6 am – Reports claim the words “deny,” “dispose,” and “defend” were engraved on live rounds and shell casings left behind by the assassin. These words echo the book Delay, Deny, Defend, which is about the failings of the healthcare industry. The author of the book had no comment on the reports.
8 am– Cops raid a hostel in the Upper West Side of New York City where the suspect is said to have stayed. It’s believed he wore a mask for most of the time he was there.
11 am – A person of interest in Thompson’s murder is pictured. He’s wearing a hood in the photo, but his full face could be seen breaking into a beaming grin. Still, no arrests have been made in the investigation.
Afternoon – Law enforcement confirms the suspect arrived in New York City on a Greyhound bus on November 24. It’s also confirmed that the suspect dropped a burner cell phone near the scene of the shooting.
December 6, 3 pm – Police announce they believe the killer has left New York City via interstate bus. They release more surveillance footage that shows him taking a taxi to the George Washington Bridge Bus Station.
December 9 – Luigi Mangione, 26, is arrested as a “strong person of interest” at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania. He was carrying a three-page manifesto, fake IDs, and a gun similar to the one used in Thompson’s murder.
