Luigi Mangione faces death penalty as federal prosecutors declare intent

Luigi Mangione could now face the if he is convicted of United Healthcare CEO . The 26-year-old is facing a raft of federal charges, including murder through use of a firearm, which makes him eligible for capital punishment.

Federal prosecutors in the have confirmed they submitted a formal notice that they intend to seek the death penalty for if he is found guilty. He has previously pleaded not guilty. He is due to appear in a Manhattan federal court on Friday for his arraignment in New York City - the city where the healthcare boss was shot on the street.

Mangione is expected to plead not guilty when he shows up in court today, but the shock formal notice was filed by prosecutors just hours before his appearance. The filing said the death penalty was being sought as Mangione "presents a future danger because he expressed an intent to target an entire industry, and rally political and social opposition to that industry".

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Prosecutors added: "[He engaged] in an act of lethal violence and he took steps to evade law enforcement, flee New York City immediately after the murder and cross state lines while armed with a privately manufactured firearm and silencer."

This comes after Attorney General directed federal prosecutors to pursue capital punishment for Mangione. In a statement she said: "Luigi Mangione's murder of Brian Thompson - an innocent man and father of two young children - was a premeditated, cold-blooded assassination that shocked America.

"After careful consideration, I have directed federal prosecutors to seek the death penalty in this case as we carry out President Trump's agenda to stop violent crime and Make America Safe Again."