Altoona Police Department
Luigi Mangione, suspected of murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO
The terrorism accusation is being heavily criticized online, where Mangione has a large support base. A new survey shows that 41% of young Americans consider the assassination of the CEO acceptable.
Luigi Mangione, the 26-year-old suspected of murdering the CEO of insurance company UnitedHealthcare, was formally charged with first- and second-degree murder, including a charge of homicide as an act of terrorism.
This charge is based on a law created in New York after 9/11 that extends the definition of terrorism to crimes that have the “intent to intimidate or coerce a civilian population, influence the policy of a governmental unit through intimidation or coercion or affect the conduct of a governmental unit through murder, murder or kidnapping”, cites .
The written message that Mangione left to the police should be used by prosecutors to try to prove the terrorism charge, as it makes the suspect’s political views clear. In the manifesto, the suspect criticizes the private healthcare system in the United States and describes insurers as “parasites” who “got what they deserved”.
According to New York prosecutor Alvin Bragg, the suspect’s intention was “sow terror“. Karen Friedman Agnifilo, Mangione’s lawyer, considers that the accusation of terrorism is disproportionate and is an example of “overcharging”. If convicted, Mangione risks a life sentence.
The decision to accuse Luigi Mangione of terrorism is being widely contested on the internet, where the young man has become a symbol against a healthcare system which annually leads to the deaths of 68,000 Americans.
Among the arguments of Mangione’s defenders, there are those who point to the part of his manifesto where he emphasizes that he wanted to carry out an attack that was “targeted, precise and that does not put innocent people at risk“, which goes against the general idea that terrorist attacks are indiscriminate and do not have a specific target.
There are those who argue that this broader definition of terrorism should also be applied to insurance companies, as they also cause the deaths of thousands of Americans in the name of a capitalist ideology.
“Luigi Mangione is being charged with 1st degree murder and terrorism for allegedly “influencing the policies of a government unit through intimidation or coercion.” But it doesn’t hurt that for-profit insurance companies in kill in the name of profit and bribe our government to prevent changing the system”, points out a publication on X, with more than 27 thousand likes.
Luigi Mangione is being charged with 1st degree murder & terrorism for allegedly “influencing the policies of a unit of government by intimidation or coercion.” But it’s ok that for-profit insurance companies kill us for profit and bribe our govt to prevent change to the system.
— Power to the People ☭🕊 (@ProudSocialist)
Others prefer to remember the suspects in the countless mass shootings that plague the United States every year and who were never charged with terrorism, as well as the Trump supporters who stormed the Capitol.
“If Luigi had shot at someone other than a CEOthe Government would not call it terrorism”, says another publication.
If Luigi had shot anyone but a CEO, the government would not be calling it terrorism.
— evan loves worf (@esjesjesj)
The terrorism charge could also be seen as a way of trying to silence the support the young man has received, with his defenders now being seen as sympathizing with a terrorist.
Briana Boston’s case is also being mentioned as an example of attempts to quell the population’s anger against the healthcare system and attacking freedom of expression.
The 42-year-old woman was arrested after repeating the words “delay, deny, depose” — the same words inscribed on the bullets used to kill Brian Thompson — in a call with her insurance company when her claim was rejected. “You will be next”, Briana said, who now risks a 15-year prison sentence.
“Accusing Luigi of terrorism is part of a larger plan to infiltrate circles where people did not express any empathy for the CEO. They want to ban mobilization against corporations under the pretext of “terrorist threats”. They are doing everything they can to make them shut up and accept their corporate and never question the capitalist gangsters who profit from your misery and death”, pointed out political commentator Kyle Kulinski.
Charging Luigi with terrorism is part of a broader plan to infiltrate in circles where people expressed no sympathy for the CEO. Just like that woman getting arrested in Florida for telling Blue Cross they’re next after she had her claim denied.
They want to ban anti-corporate…
— Secular Talk🎙 (@KyleKulinski)
41% of young people consider CEO murder “acceptable”
Meanwhile, support for Mangione shows no sign of abating. A survey concluded that 68% of those interviewed considered the killer’s actions against the CEO to be unacceptable, while 17% found them acceptable.
The most divided demographic group are young people between the ages of 18 and 29, with 41% declaring murder acceptableagainst 40% who consider it unacceptable. Of the 41% of defenders, 17% even describe the act as “completely acceptable”.
This research aligns with the wave of memes on social media in support of Luigi Mangione, including songs in his honor and comparisons to the film Jokerwhere the famous Batman villain becomes a folk hero after killing three Wall Street investors.
CEOs in panic
Support for Mangione is worrying insurance executives in the United States. Fearful of being targeted in similar attacks, companies removed information about their senior managers from their websites, canceled meetings, and advised executives to erase your digital footprints.
“A Corporate America is nervous. People are on high alert,” said Keith Wojcieszek, global director of intelligence at Kroll, in a phone interview with .
New York Governor Kathy Hochul even hosted a virtual meeting with 175 executives and their security teams to discuss how they should respond to Thompson’s murder. One of the topics discussed at the meeting was the creation of a CEO support hotline so they can report threats.
The revelation was devastated on social media, with users questioning why politicians don’t act to solve problems that affect the working class with the same readiness shown to elites.
Many expressed outrage at the idea of Hochul’s office using taxpayer money to protect wealthy business leaders who can hire their own security.
“Why does the money from my taxes Would you go to help protect people who are more than capable of hiring private security? New York is so stupid!” wrote one user on X.
“I hope this is a joke, because the special treatment given to “CEOs” through 112 should show everyone who is really being served by the police”, commented another on the platform.
“It seems that I don’t remember this type of answer when the homicide rate increased in 2022,” one user posted.
Others pointed to broader social concerns. “How about a hotline in case your insurance company not paying for your medications? Or if weather-related flooding destroys your home?” asked another user.
