What Occurred When Luigi Mangione Had to Witness Himself Shooting the CEO

A video showing the violent death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, which was displayed on multiple screens during an evidentiary hearing in Manhattan Supreme Court on Monday, was first released by the NYPD last December to aid in the search for the suspect. However, the courtroom screening offered new context. Among the viewers was 27-year-old Luigi Mangione, an Ivy League graduate accused of stepping into view and fatally shooting Thompson in the back on a Midtown sidewalk during the morning commute. The gunman reportedly fled without revealing his identity.

Appearing at a suppression of evidence hearing in Manhattan Criminal Court on December 1, 2025, Mangione watched the footage from the defendants table, dressed in a grey suit and a patterned red-and-white shirt. Observers noted his calm demeanor as he viewed the images, suggesting he may still consider his actions justified. At one point, he glanced toward high windows that allowed sunlight into the courtroom, contrasting with the dim environment of the Metropolitan Detention Center where he is held pending both federal and state trials.

The courtroom contained journalists in the front rows and a smaller group of supporters behind them. Attendance was lower than during a previous appearance nine months earlier, despite the ongoing public interest in healthcare issues.

The hearing then transitioned from footage of Thompsons final moments to video depicting Mangiones last hours of freedom. This included surveillance and 911 recordings from a five-day manhunt that ended at a Pennsylvania fast-food restaurant. Many of these recordings were newly presented, revealing details that add context to Mangiones character beyond the alleged crime.

Security footage from a McDonalds in Altoona, Pennsylvania, shows Mangione pausing around 9 a.m. to clean a table with a napkin before eating a Hash Brown while wearing a blue surgical mask and a brown knit cap. Despite the mask, his distinctive eyebrows were noticeable enough that patrons alerted the manager, who called 911. The call was initially categorized as low priority, and two officers arrived about 15 minutes later. The video shows Mangione calmly complying with police instructions while finishing his breakfast, treating the encounter with remarkable composure. After providing his real information, authorities confirmed his identity using a drivers license photo, which was later displayed on the courtroom screen.

Mangiones lawyers, Karen and Marc Agnifilo, are representing him vigorously, seeking to exclude evidence including a 3-D printed ghost gun and writings found in his backpack at arrest, arguing these were obtained without a warrant. They also aim to suppress any statements made before Mangione was informed of his right to remain silent. The defense began by cross-examining two Pennsylvania corrections officers who interacted with him before his return to New York, and the proceedings are expected to continue up to the first anniversary of the killing.

Author: Sophia Brooks