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Days after Luigi Mangione's arrest in connection with UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson's death, 42-year-old Briana Boston was arrested in Lakeland, Florida, for reportedly making threats on a call to BlueCross Blue Shield, using a phrase in reference to Mangione.
As reported by WFLA on December 12, 2024, Boston was arrested for using the phrase "Delay, Deny, Depose," which seemingly resembles "Deny, Defend, Depose," found on the bullet casings at the scene of Thompson's death. Boston used the phrase in the context of BlueCross Blue Shield denying her recent medical insurance claims. As per the court affidavit, she was charged with threats to carry out a mass shooting or act of terrorism.
Lakeland Police reported that Briana Boston ended her conversation with the company by saying the phrase followed by "You people are next." During her first appearance in court, Briana Boston's lawyer, Jim Headley, said that she is a 42-year-old, married, mother of three who has never had any criminal convictions or charges.
Boston told detectives that “healthcare companies played games and deserved karma from the world because they are evil.” Additionally, she confessed that she didn't own any firearms and wasn't a danger to anyone.
"You cannot assassinate an individual on the streets of New York"— Gov. Kathy Hochul commented on Luigi Mangione's indictment
As reported by CNN on December 12, 2024, the presentation of evidence to a grand jury is imperative in obtaining Luigi Mangione's indictment. Blair County Judge David Consiglio has scheduled Luigi Mangione's hearing in Pennsylvania on December 30, 2024, in response to the accused's petitions for bail and a writ of habeas corpus.
The publication noted that New York's Governor Kathy Hochul expects a murder indictment to be issued soon and plans to issue a warrant for Luigi Mangione's extradition as soon as the indictment is issued. In an interview with MSNBC's Morning Joe on December 12, 2024, Gov. Kathy Hochul said:
“It feels like the evidence is very compelling. I trust the DA here in Manhattan to make sure that he puts forth an indictment that is going to be iron-clad.”
She added:
“That horrific attack occurred on our streets. And the people of our city deserve to have that sense of calm that this perpetrator has been caught, and he will be never seeing the late of day again if there is justice. You cannot assassinate an individual on the streets of New York – not now, not ever.”
However, Luigi Mangione's lawyer has denied Mangione's involvement in the killing of Brian Thompson. He anticipates that his client will plead not guilty to murder and other charges in New York, as well as charges related to fake ID and the 3-D printed gun in Pennsylvania. Mangione is currently being held without bond in Pennsylvania.
According to WFLA's report, investigators noted that Briana Boston did not pose any threat to others but interpreted her statement as a deliberate threat. While the phrase Boston used was similar to the one allegedly written by Mangione on the bullets used to shoot Brian Thompson, she admitted that she did not mean anything by it.
The judge set her bond at $100,000, stating that it was appropriate considering the circumstances at the time.
