USA – Luigi Mangione’s fans are expressing outrage online that the alleged assassin could face the death penalty after being indicted on federal charges in Manhattan. The alleged killer of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was charged Thursday with federal crimes of murder, stalking and weapons violations, escalating the case after his indictment on state charges. While the death penalty has been outlawed in New York for decades, the federal charges against Mangione, 26, could mean he’s sent to death row, though prosecutors have not said whether they will seek the death penalty in the case.

News that Mangione could face the death penalty has only heightened fascination with the alleged killer, with people posting fan art that depicts him as a religious figure. One of these images was even posted near the scene of Thompson’s murder.

Many online are claiming Mangione is facing worse punishment that hardened criminals and school shooters, speculating that the government wants to make an example out of him and prevent some sort of revolt against corporate America. One X post read: ‘They wanna give Luigi Mangione the death penalty. That’s the only reason they making him face federal charges.  ‘They literally wanna kill him for daring to threaten capitalism and corporate greed. They don’t even do this to school shooters.’ Another X user added: ‘Very few school shooters have gotten the death penalty. Yet the U.S. is trying to charge Luigi Mangione so he gets the death penalty for killing one man. You can kill dozens of kids and get a lesser sentence because their lives don’t matter as much as a CEO’s. That’s America.’

Photo: Fans of Luigi Mangione have expressed outrage online about him possibly facing the death penalty. (AP)