Federal prosecutors have suggested that Luigi Mangione, charged with murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, may have inspired last month’s deadly shooting at NFL headquarters in New York City.
Authorities allege that Mangione carried out Thompson’s assassination on a Manhattan street last year to “normalize the use of violence” as a means of advancing political objectives, rather than relying on dialogue or debate. Prosecutors pointed to the July 28 attack at 345 Park Avenue as a possible example of that influence.
During the incident, Shane Tamura entered the NFL offices armed with an assault-style rifle, killing four people. Like Mangione, Tamura left behind written notes explaining his motives. In a letter recovered from his body, Tamura blamed football and the NFL for causing chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain condition linked to repeated head injuries, often seen in athletes and veterans. Tamura had only played football in high school.
Investigators said Mangione marked bullets used in Thompson’s killing with phrases like “deny,” “depose,” and “delay,” and recorded in a journal that “The target is insurance because it checks every box.” Prosecutors argue the murder was intended to send a broader message and provoke fear or outrage toward the insurance industry.
“The defendant intended to make violence seem like an acceptable method for achieving ideological goals,” prosecutors wrote. “Since the killing, certain followers of Mangione have increasingly treated violent actions as a substitute for reasoned political discussion.”
The federal government is pursuing the death penalty, citing Mangione’s potential to inspire further acts of violence. Prosecutors also opposed a defense request for more evidence, stating that Mangione already has access to the materials supporting the government’s case and would not be caught by surprise.
Mangione has pleaded not guilty to the December 4 killing of Thompson. Officials say he shot the CEO multiple times with a 9 mm handgun equipped with a silencer and was arrested several days later in Altoona, Pennsylvania.
