Journalism of Courage
The lawyers of Luigi Mangione, the accused in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in December 2024, have asked a court to block prosecutors from presenting evidence police say was found in Mangione’s backpack at the time of his arrest.
Mangione’s lawyers, Karen Friedman Agnifilo and Marc Agnifilo, argued that he was illegally searched and questioned when key evidence, including a 3D-printed gun, a silencer, electronic devices, and journal writings that appear to implicate him in the killing.
Mangione’s lawyers are also seeking to suppress statements he gave to police during his arrest, saying police did not give Mangione proper notice of his legal rights.
This was the first time 27-year-old Mangione, who was arrested in December 2024 and charged with fatally shooting, over the killing of Thompson, was back in court.
Trial dates have not been set in either the state or federal cases. Mangione has been held in federal custody in Brooklyn since his arrest.
Mangione could face life in prison if convicted of murder in the second degree, which is defined as an intentional killing. He also faces seven counts of criminal possession of a weapon and one count of possessing a false identification.
Thompson, the then CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was gunned down outside a Midtown Manhattan hotel on December 4, 2024.
The killing that sent shockwaves across the US took an unexpected turn after social media started celebrating the murder and calling the accused a hero.
The social media response was seen as a reflection of the anger against the medical insurance industry in the US, which is known for widespread coverage denials.
Mangione, who was arrested on December 9 after he was apprehended by local police at a McDonald’s restaurant in Altoona, Pennsylvania, continues to enjoy widespread support, with some even launching crowdfunding for his legal defense.
Some Mangione supporters were also present in the Manhattan Criminal Court as he made the first of a series of high-stakes hearings in front of Judge Gregory Carro, on Monday, on the admissibility of key pieces of evidence at his murder trial.
Mangione has pleaded not guilty to murder and other charges and is expected to face trial next year. He has also pleaded not guilty in a separate federal case where prosecutors plan to seek the death penalty.
Judge Carro dismissed two terrorism counts against Mangione in September, finding prosecutors had not presented enough evidence that Mangione intended to intimidate health insurance workers or influence government policy.
Prosecutors with the office of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg have opposed Mangione’s requests to suppress the evidence and denied his claims that he was illegally searched and questioned.
