Manhattan DA vows accountability in United Healthcare 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 might be held accountable for overtly gunning down United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

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

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

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

“We intend to study extra, and we’ve got quite a lot of issues to do,” Bragg mentioned. “As issues go ahead, there could also be further costs to deliver,” Bragg mentioned.

Mangione’s lawyer, Thomas Dickey, mentioned his shopper intends to plead not responsible to the fees, claiming there isn’t any proof linking his shopper to the crime. Bragg mentioned he was assured Mangione is the one who 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 staff of Manhattan’s most seasoned murder prosecutors. The DA acknowledged that the character of the alleged crime is “terribly scary.”

“It is extremely scary, and it’s one thing that has the eye of so many who reside 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 supplied the primary forensic proof linking Mangione to the alleged crime. In line with Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, fingerprints from the crime scene have been matched to Mangione, and three shell casings recovered following the midtown taking pictures have been matched to Mangione’s 3D-printed handgun. Bragg’s workplace mentioned his workplace has targeted on combating so-called ghost weapons because the 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 informed ABC Information that prosecutors wished to deliver costs 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 underneath New York legislation,” 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 heart of a number of high-profile instances — 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 help for the accused assassin, which Bragg referred to as “abhorrent.”

“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 taking pictures Thompson exterior a Midtown Manhattan lodge on Dec. 4 whereas the CEO was heading to an traders convention.

Thompson’s homicide ignited on-line anger on the medical health insurance trade and a few folks 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 think about folks celebrating that … is past comprehension to me.”

“What I’d say to members of the general public … [who are] celebrating this and perhaps considering different motion: We might be vigilant and we’ll maintain folks 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, in keeping with the NYPD.

Bragg, who has targeted on cracking down on ghost weapons throughout his time as DA, burdened, “They’re deadly in the identical means as a conventional gun. What’s so scary about them is you should purchase a 3D printer and you’ll print them proper out of your kitchen desk.”

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

Mangione was apprehended in Altoona, Pennsylvania, on Monday after practically one week on the run. He is additionally dealing with costs 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 power 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.”

Bragg mentioned, “We are going to get the defendant right here and produce him to justice by way of our court docket continuing.”

“We’re ready to go ahead,” he mentioned. “We’re on the trail to accountability and justice.”