Luigi Mangione, 27, charged with the fatal shooting of former UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, is scheduled to appear once again in New York State Supreme Court. The presiding judge is anticipated to rule on several defense motions during this session.
His legal team is pushing to have the state murder indictment dismissed, contending that it breaches the constitutional protection against double jeopardy, as Mangione is concurrently facing federal charges for the same homicide. Additionally, they seek to exclude evidence obtained during his arrest and challenge the admissibility of his statements to law enforcement officials.
The incident occurred in December 2024, when Thompson was walking toward a Midtown Manhattan hotel hosting UnitedHealthcare’s annual investor conference. The subsequent nationwide manhunt captured widespread media attention, especially after authorities disclosed writings allegedly connected to Mangione and bullets inscribed with words such as “delay,” “deny,” and “depose.”
This case has been linked to a broader rise in politically motivated violence across the United States, paralleling recent high-profile attacks like the assassination of activist Charlie Kirk in Utah.
This court appearance marks Mangione’s first in state court since February. His supporters frequently attend hearings, often donning green attire and carrying signs. Since his arrest, Mangione has amassed over $1.2 million in online donations, with contributions starting as low as $5.
If found guilty in state court, Mangione faces a potential life sentence. Meanwhile, federal prosecutors have declared their intention to pursue the death penalty. His defense argues that the federal trial should precede the state case, asserting that a state conviction could compromise the fairness of any subsequent federal jury.
The defense also alleges improper acquisition of Mangione’s medical records by prosecutors and accuses both state and federal authorities of collaborating to hinder his defense. They maintain that terrorism charges are inappropriate, emphasizing that such laws are designed for attacks targeting multiple civilians rather than a single individual. Prosecutors, however, argue that the killing was a deliberate political statement, citing Mangione’s purported writings as evidence.
Mangione’s attorneys counter that the writings were private and never disseminated by their client, accusing law enforcement of leaking the documents to frame the narrative as an act of terrorism. They contend that investigators, not Mangione, inflated the case into a terrorism matter.
The court will also review motions to suppress items discovered in Mangione’s backpack-including a firearm, ammunition, and various documents-as well as his post-arrest statements made in Pennsylvania.
Media presence is expected outside the courthouse, with photographers permitted to capture images of Mangione prior to the start of the hearing.
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