Luigi Mangione draws massive crowd at court hearing in UnitedHealthcare CEO murder case
Luigi Mangione, the suspect in the killing of UnitedHealth Group chief executive Brian Thompson, walks on the day of an arraignment hearing, at New York Supreme Court in New York City, US, December 23. PHOTO:REUTERS
Luigi Mangione, the man accused of murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, appeared in court for a pretrial hearing Friday, drawing massive crowds of supporters and media. The case has gained widespread attention, with Mangione becoming a controversial figure representing frustrations with the health insurance industry.
Mangione, 26, who was arrested after a five-day manhunt, wore a bulletproof vest and shackles in court.
Judge Gregory Carro ruled that he must remain restrained for security reasons. His lawyer, Karen Friedman Agnifilo, objected, arguing that the high-profile nature of the case was undermining Mangione’s presumption of innocence.
The hearing addressed the dual prosecutions Mangione faces—one at the state level, where he has pleaded not guilty to multiple murder and terrorism charges, and another at the federal level, which could result in the death penalty. Prosecutors have yet to decide whether they will seek capital punishment. The judge scheduled the next hearing for June 26 but did not set a trial date.
Prosecutors revealed they have turned over more than 800 gigabytes of evidence, including surveillance footage, police body camera recordings, and DNA analysis. Mangione’s defense team intends to file motions to suppress some of the evidence by April 9, with prosecutors required to respond by May 9.
Mangione’s case has sparked public debate, with many expressing anger at the health insurance industry. Dozens of supporters gathered outside the courtroom, wearing green attire—a nod to Mangione’s first name and the Mario Bros. character. Some displayed “Free Luigi” signs, while others chanted his name.
Luigi Mangione’s attorney Karen Agnifilo has arrived. The crowd goes wild cheering and applauding her #LuigiMangione #Luigi #nyc @1010WINS pic.twitter.com/ZDgdKuCNuN
— Mary-Lyn Buckley (@ml_buckley) February 21, 2025
Although the state case is proceeding first, Mangione remains in a Brooklyn federal jail, housed alongside high-profile inmates such as Sean “Diddy” Combs and Sam Bankman-Fried. The judge questioned his detention status, as there has yet to be a federal indictment, but prosecutors indicated they are holding him based on a complaint.