In a startling development, U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi has instructed federal prosecutors to pursue the death penalty for Luigi Mangione, the 26-year-old accused of the brutal shooting death of Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealth Group's insurance division, in New York last year.

Mangione’s attorney, Karen Friedman Agnifilo, condemned the decision, branding the pursuit of the death penalty "baric." "While claiming to protect against murder, the federal government moves to commit the premeditated, state-sponsored murder of Luigi," she stated, alluding to the controversial nature of capital punishment.

Facing multiple charges, Mangione has pleaded not guilty to state accusations of murder as an act of terrorism and several weapons offenses. If convicted in state court, he could be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, as New York does not allow the death penalty for state crimes. However, the federal charges against him in Manhattan could change the stakes dramatically.

According to Bondi's announcement, if Mangione is found guilty in the federal proceedings, a separate jury phase will determine whether the death penalty should be recommended. This recommendation must come from a unanimous jury, with the judge required to impose it if granted.

The shocking murder occurred on December 4, when Thompson was shot outside a Midtown Manhattan hotel during an investor conference for his company. In her statement, Bondi described the crime as a "premeditated, cold-blooded assassination that shocked America." She emphasized her directive was aligned with President Trump's agenda to combat violent crime and enhance national safety.

The gruesome nature of Thompson’s killing and the subsequent five-day manhunt for Mangione captured national attention. Authorities in Altoona, Pennsylvania, apprehended Mangione on December 9, recovering a 9-millimeter pistol with a silencer, clothing that matched what was seen in surveillance footage of the shooting, and a disturbing notebook outlining an intent to "wack" an insurance company CEO, according to court documents.

While many public officials have expressed outrage over the brutal murder, a segment of the public has controversially defended Mangione, suggesting his actions brought to light the exorbitant costs of U.S. healthcare and the perceived monopolistic power of health insurers. Currently, he remains incarcerated in a federal facility in Brooklyn.

In a significant policy shift, Bondi lifted a moratorium on federal executions imposed by her predecessor, Merrick Garland, in 2021 under the administration of President Joe Biden, signaling a renewed commitment to capital punishment at the federal level.