Luigi Mangione, a 26-year-old man, is set to be arraigned in Manhattan federal court for allegedly tracking and murdering the UnitedHealthcare chief executive, Brian Thompson, in a shocking incident that occurred late last year in New York. The case not only brought attention to the killing of a high-profile business executive but also fueled criticism against America’s for-profit healthcare industry. Mangione was arrested after allegedly shooting Thompson outside a New York hotel and was later apprehended in Pennsylvania after being recognized by a restaurant worker.

Facing charges including stalking, murder using a firearm, and firearms offenses in federal court, Mangione also faces murder and firearms counts in New York state court. Additionally, Pennsylvania state prosecutors are pursuing a case against him for alleged weapons possession and false identification. Despite maintaining his innocence, the stakes were raised when the Attorney General directed prosecutors to seek the death penalty, citing the killing as a premeditated, cold-blooded assassination.

This move aligns with President Trump’s agenda to combat violent crime, with the last federal death penalty case in Manhattan involving an Islamist extremist who received life imprisonment due to a jury’s inability to agree on the death penalty. Legal experts speculate that Trump’s administration is unlikely to agree to a plea deal for Mangione, as it may conflict with the political stance of being tough on crime. The case has sparked debate on the application of the death penalty in federal cases during recent years.