Luigi Mangione court hearing: Officer identifies UnitedHealthcare murder suspect after mask removal

Luigi Mangione, 27, accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside a Manhattan hotel a year ago, appeared in court on Tuesday for the second day of his pretrial hearing in New York. He entered wearing a suit jacket and dress shirt, with his handcuffs removed before sitting at the defense table.

Mangiones legal team is attempting to prevent prosecutors from using evidence obtained during his arrest at a McDonalds in Altoona, Pennsylvania, last December. They argue police failed to inform him of his Miranda rights and conducted a warrantless search of his backpack. Items seized included a 3D-printed handgun, a silencer, and a notebook containing writings described by prosecutors as a manifesto. In one entry, Mangione reportedly criticized health care executives, calling them parasites and claiming they simply had it coming. Another entry referenced targeting insurance companies as part of his plan.

His attorneys contend that the backpack search was unlawful because Mangione was handcuffed and separated from the bag by officers, and no immediate threat existed. They also seek to exclude statements he made to Pennsylvania authorities before his transfer to New York. The pretrial hearing is expected to continue for at least a week.

Prosecutors have presented six witnesses, including an NYPD officer who shared images of Mangione with the media, a security camera technician who installed the surveillance system that captured his arrest, a 911 dispatcher, two Pennsylvania corrections officers, and a local police officer.

During testimony, a McDonalds manager recounted calling 911 after spotting Mangione, describing him in a black jacket, tan beanie, and surgical mask. Officer Joseph Detwiler testified that he initially doubted it was Mangione but recognized him once the mask was removed. Detwiler described trying to keep Mangione calm while waiting for backup. Body camera footage showed the police searching Mangiones jacket and backpack after arrest, with one officer stating such searches were standard procedure under Pennsylvania law.

Corrections officers testified about their interactions with Mangione while in custody, noting his frustration at being compared to Ted Kaczynski, and his admission of carrying a 3D-printed handgun and foreign currency at the time of arrest. Defense attorneys challenged the reliability of these statements.

Mangione faces both state and federal murder charges related to Thompsons December 4, 2024, killing. State charges could result in life imprisonment, while federal charges carry the potential death penalty. Previous terrorism and first-degree murder charges were dismissed, but second-degree murder and several firearms-related charges remain. He also faces additional charges in Pennsylvania, including interstate stalking resulting in death, illegal weapon possession, and providing false identification.

Thompson was shot outside a luxury Manhattan hotel while heading to an investor conference. Surveillance shows a hooded figure firing a silenced gun, with shell casings marked with the words deny, delay, and depose, believed to reference health insurance tactics. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg described the attack as a planned, targeted murder intended to intimidate.

The killing sparked national discussion on the U.S. health care system. Some supporters of Mangione have organized fundraising campaigns and attended court appearances, carrying signs and wearing shirts reading Free Luigi. Demonstrators outside the courthouse included a person dressed as the video game character Luigi and another holding a banner stating Luigi Before Parasites. One participant commented that while they do not condone murder, Mangiones actions highlighted flaws in the health care system.

Author: Sophia Brooks