UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting suspect indicted on murder charges with prosecution describing it as ‘act of terrorism’

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Luigi Mangione, the suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, has been indicted on murder charges, with prosecutors in New York describing it as “an act of terrorism.” The indictment comes as a poll found four in 10 young adults consider the killing of health insurance CEO “acceptable.” The new poll by Emerson College found that 41 percent of young adults between the ages of 18 and 29 found the killing acceptable, while 68 percent of people surveyed overall believe it is unacceptable. Breaking down the younger demographic further, the poll found that 17 percent of young people surveyed found the suspect’s alleged actions “completely acceptable,” and 24 percent found it “somewhat acceptable.” Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said at a press conference Tuesday afternoon that the first-degree murder charge against Mangione accuses the suspected shooter of committing “an act of terrorism involving a violent act and acts dangerous to human life.” open image in gallery A poster in support of Luigi Mangione, who has been indicted on murder charges The act was “intended to intimidate or coerce a civilian population, influence the policies of a unit of government by intimidation or coercion, and affect the conduct of a unit of government by murder, assassination or kidnapping,” Bragg explained. At Tuesday’s press conference, New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch addressed the “appalling celebration” of Thompson’s murder by Americans who are frustrated with the country’s health insurance industry. open image in gallery NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch holds a copy of the New York Post addressing the ‘appalling celebration’ of Brian Thompson’s murder by Mangione’s supporters “People ghoulishly plastered posters threatening the CEOs, other CEOs, with an X over Mr. Thompson’s picture, as though he was some sort of a sick trophy,” she added.