The words “deny,” “defend” and “depose” were written on shell casings found at the Thompson murder scene, several news outlets reported, evoking the title of a book critical of the insurance industry.
Mangione has been celebrated in some circles, and more than a thousand donations have poured into an online fundraiser for his legal defense.
New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said any attempt to rationalise Mangione’s alleged actions was “vile.”
“There is no heroism in what Mangione did,” Tisch told reporters. “We don’t celebrate murders and we don’t lionise the killing of anyone.”
The indictment accused Mangione of murdering Thompson with the intent to “influence the policy of a unit of government by intimidation or coercion.”
Mangione suffered from chronic back pain that affected his daily life, according to friends and social media posts, though it is unclear whether his own health played a role in the shooting.
UnitedHealth Group said last week Mangione was not a customer of the health insurer.
