The man accused of fatally shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York and leading authorities on a five-day search is set to appear in court on Friday for the first time since his December arraignment on state murder and terrorism charges.
Why It Matters
Luigi Mangione, 26, is facing multiple murder counts, including murder as an act of terrorism, in connection with the December 4 killing of Thompson outside a midtown Manhattan hotel. The high-profile case has drawn national attention, as Mangione’s alleged motives and legal defense strategy continue to unfold.
Prosecutors have also filed federal charges against Mangione, which could result in the death penalty. He is being held at a Brooklyn federal jail alongside other high-profile inmates, including music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs and former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried.
Luigi Mangione leaving Blair County Courthouse in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, on December 19, 2024. Luigi Mangione leaving Blair County Courthouse in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, on December 19, 2024. Gene J. Puskar/AP Photo
What To Know
Mangione is scheduled for a hearing in Manhattan state court, where prosecutors and his defense team are expected to provide updates on the case. Judge Gregory Carro may set deadlines for pretrial filings and schedule a trial date.
Authorities allege that Mangione ambushed Thompson as the executive walked to an investor conference, shooting him on a busy sidewalk. Following a multistate search, he was arrested on December 9 at a McDonald’s in Pennsylvania. Police said Mangione was in possession of a firearm matching the one used in the shooting, a fake ID and a notebook expressing hostility toward the health insurance industry and wealthy executives.
Mangione has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Karen Friedman Agnifilo, Mangione’s defense attorney, has criticized the handling of his case, arguing at his December 23 arraignment that competing jurisdictions had turned him into a “human ping-pong ball.” She also accused New York officials, including Mayor Eric Adams, of tainting the jury pool by orchestrating a publicized transfer of Mangione back to Manhattan, where he was escorted by heavily armed officers.
A composite image of Luigi Mangione at the South Street helipad in New York on December 19, 2024, after being extradited from Pennsylvania, with an inset of New York Mayor Eric Adams waiting for Mangione… A composite image of Luigi Mangione at the South Street helipad in New York on December 19, 2024, after being extradited from Pennsylvania, with an inset of New York Mayor Eric Adams waiting for Mangione at the helipad.
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What People Are Saying
New York Mayor Eric Adams told PIX on Politics in December: “I wanted to send a strong message with the police commissioner that we’re leading from the front. I’m not going to just allow him to come into our city. I wanted to look him in the eye and state that, ‘You carried out this terrorist act in my city, the city that the people of New York love.’ And I wanted to be there to show the symbolism of that.”
Luigi Mangione, in a statement posted on a website dedicated to his legal defense, said: “I am overwhelmed by—and grateful for—everyone who has written me to share their stories and express their support. Powerfully, this support has transcended political, racial, and even class divisions.”
What Happens Next
Prosecutors have indicated that the state trial will likely proceed first, where Mangione faces a maximum sentence of life in prison without parole. The timeline for federal proceedings, including a potential capital case, remains uncertain.
This article contains reporting by the Associated Press.
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