NY Judge Dismisses Terrorism Charges in High-Profile Insurance CEO Murder Case

In a significant legal ruling, a New York judge has dismissed state terrorism charges against Luigi Mangione, who is accused of murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

Justice Gregory Carro found the evidence presented to the grand jury was legally insufficient to support the terrorism charges, stating that while Mangione’s actions were driven by an ideological animus toward the healthcare industry, the prosecution failed to prove his intent was to "intimidate or coerce a civilian population" as required by New York’s post-9/11 terrorism statute.

The judge clarified that a company's employees do not constitute a "civilian population" under the law and that a political motive alone does not automatically equate to a terrorist act.

Despite this dismissal, which narrows the state's case, Mangione’s legal peril remains severe. He still faces second-degree murder and weapons charges in state court, which carry a potential sentence of 25 years to life, and a separate federal case where prosecutors are seeking the death penalty on charges including murder through the use of a firearm.

The decision highlights the high legal bar for applying terrorism statutes and sets a precedent that may limit their use in cases involving a single target rather than attacks aimed at intimidating the broader public. For the original reporting, you can read the full article on

Source:

NBC News.