CNN By Kaitlan Collins, CNN (CNN) — Luigi Mangione has retained a high-powered New York attorney to represent him as he faces a second-degree murder charge in the death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, CNN has learned. Karen Friedman Agnifilo will represent him in New York. Friedman Agnifilo previously worked as the chief assistant district
This is a NY state thing. First degree is for killing government functionaries and some other special conditions https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_in_New_York_law