(NewsNation) — In a new filing, federal prosecutors argue that Luigi Mangione sought to inspire others to kill and, as a result, should face the death penalty.

The 27-year-old from Maryland is accused of gunning down UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on a Manhattan sidewalk Dec. 4.

Mangione has developed a national following since his arrest. As the Justice Department seeks the death penalty, Mangione's legal defense fund has received $1.2 million in donations.

Prosecutors maintain that Mangione deserves the death penalty at least partially because he is so influential.

“Simply put, the defendant hoped to normalize the use of violence to achieve ideological or political objectives,” prosecutors said.

“Since the murder, certain quarters of the public — who openly identify as acolytes

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