Callum Jones
Luigi Mangione has reportedly been put in the same prison as Diddy as he faces charges that could lead to the controversial death penalty.
UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was shot and killed in what is alleged to have been a targeted attack by 26-year-old Mangione.
Thompson was shot twice in the back and in the leg as he left the Hilton hotel in Midtown Manhattan earlier this month.
Officials later announced that a person of interest had been detained after being spotted in a McDonald's in Altoona, Pennsylvania, following a tip-off from an employee at the fast-food joint.
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New York prosecutor Alvin Bragg spoke to reporters earlier this week, claiming Mangione hoped to 'sow terror' in his actions.
"This was a frightening, well-planned, targeted murder that was intended to cause shock and attention and intimidation," Bragg said.
“It occurred in one of the most bustling parts of our city, threatened the safety of local residents and tourists alike, commuters and businesspeople just starting out on their day.
“The intent was to sow terror.”
Marc Agnifilo, who is also representing Diddy during his own criminal proceedings, appeared in federal court on Thursday (December 19) to inform the judge he would be representing Mangione.
Mangione is locked up at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, according to both CNN and ABC News, which is the same prison where Diddy is locked up on sex trafficking charges.
According to a criminal indictment unsealed on Thursday, the nature of Mangione's charges could allow prosecutors to aim for the death penalty.
It remains unclear at this time whether federal prosecutors will pursue such a serious punishment.
The New York Times reports that decision would likely fall to the attorney general, which would likely come after Donald Trump has taken office in January.
Under New York law, a terrorism charge, which has been filed against Mangione, can be brought when an alleged crime is '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'.
Some people on social media have taken to defending the alleged killer’s actions since his arrest, something the police have since commented on.
New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said any attempt to rationalize Mangione's alleged actions was 'vile'.
"There is no heroism in what Mangione did," the commissioner said.
"We don't celebrate murders and we don't lionize the killing of anyone."