Luigi Mangione will not face the death penalty for allegedly killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in December 2024, a federal district judge ruled.
The decision is a loss for federal prosecutors, who were adamant about pursuing the death penalty in the case.
The judge dismissed the murder charge because it requires that the killing was committed during another “crime of violence.” Prosecutors alleged the other crimes of violence were two stalking charges, arguing Mangione stalked Thompson online and travelled across state lines to carry out the killing.
The judge disagreed, finding stalking charges are not “crimes of violence” and dismissed two counts in his federal case – murder and a related firearm offense.
Yeah. I do find it interesting that the crime control act from the 80’s has a lower punishment tier for a la carte premeditated murder. I wonder what the logic was behind that.
Maybe it’s there to reduce the risk of executing people who are innocent? A defendant has to be found guilty on two violent offenses, which is a higher bar for prosecutors to clear.
I’m not a big fan of the death penalty, but the history nerd in me is mildly curious about why this act was drafted in this way.