Luigi Mangione is hit with terrorism charges for UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s murder

Luigi Mangione has been charged with murder as an act of terrorism for the shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

Mangione, 26, has already been charged with murder for the December 4 slaying, but the indictment could help take procedural steps toward the suspect’s extradition.

Under New York law, such a charge can be filed when an alleged crime is “intended to intimidate or coerce a civilian population, to influence the policies of a governmental unit by intimidation or coercion, and to influence the conduct of a governmental unit by murder,’ murder or kidnapping.’

Thompson, 50, was shot dead as he walked to a Manhattan hotel where Minnesota-based UnitedHealthcare — the nation’s largest health insurer — was holding an investor conference.

“This was a frightening, well-planned, targeted killing designed to cause shock, attention and intimidation,” Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said Tuesday.

“It happened in one of the most vibrant parts of our city and threatened the safety of local residents as well as tourists, commuters and business people just starting their day.”

Mangione has two court hearings scheduled for Thursday in Pennsylvania, including an extradition hearing, Bragg noted.

Hours after his arrest in Pennslyvania last week, the Manhattan district attorney’s office filed paperwork charging him with murder and other offenses. The indictment builds on that paperwork.

The researchers’ working theory is that Mangione, an Ivy League computer science student from a prominent Maryland family, was propelled by anger about the U.S. health care system.

A law enforcement bulletin obtained by The Associated Press Week said he had a handwritten letter with him at the time of his arrest calling health insurers “parasitic” and complaining about corporate greed.