Luigi Mangione fans elated as judge dismisses terrorism charges

by · Mail Online

Luigi Mangione fans were shocked and elated in court today after a judge dismissed the two most serious charges against him.

Judge Gregory Carro said that the evidence was 'legally insufficient' for the counts of murder in the first degree in furtherance of an act of terrorism, and murder in the second degree as a crime of terrorism.

In court, Mangione's fans put their hands over their faces and smiled, with one appearing to wipe away a tear.

He still faces one count of murder in the second degree, which is now his most serious charge in December's killing of healthcare executive Brian Thompson.

Mangione is also accused of two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, four counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree, one count of criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree and one count of possession of a forged instrument in the second degree.

The decision is a huge legal win for Mangione and comes after his lawyers claimed prosecutors were rushing to bring the case against him.

Mangione walked into Manhattan Supreme Court looking stoic, wearing a prison issue tan colored top and pants.

His hands were shackled in front of him, and he had leg chains on as he made his way down the hall.

Luigi Mangione is seen in court in Manhattan today, where a judge dismissed the first two terrorist allegations against him, citing lack of evidence 
It was a big win for his lawyers who have argued that prosecutors were rushing to bring the case against him
Fans of Mangione waiting outside the downtown Manhattan courtroom today

Supporters gathered outside the downtown Manhattan courtroom Tuesday morning for Mangione's first appearance since the killing of Charlie Kirk – another high-profile murder that has been compared to Thompson’s. 

The accused murderer's fans said that he had taken a 'bite out of corruption' when he allegedly shot UnitedHealthcare executive Thompson dead, 50.

Mangione, a 27-year-old Ivy League graduate, has become a 'symbol' for the fight for healthcare reform, his supporters said.

The hearing in New York took place less than a week after Kirk was shot dead at a campus event in Orem, Utah, on September 10.

The alleged killer of Kirk, the founder of right-wing activism group Turning Point USA, is accused of engraving messages into the bullet casings just like Mangione allegedly did.

Mangione was accused of 11 counts including murder in the first degree and murder in the second degree by prosecutors at the state court in New York.

The Manhattan District Attorney claims that Mangione shot father-of-two Thompson outside the Hilton hotel in Midtown Manhattan on December 4 last year.

He allegedly wrote 'deny', 'depose' and 'delay' on the bullets in a sign of his anger at the healthcare system which reportedly sprang from long-term back problems.

Mangione walked into court in a tan prison-issued jumpsuit with his arms and legs shackled
The accused killer still faces one count of murder in the second degree, which is now his most serious charge
One fan outside the courthouse waved a 'Free Luigi' poster while sporting a hat modeled after the Super Mario Bros. character Luigi 

Kirk's alleged assassin Tyler Robinson, 22, is said to have been staunchly against the activist's right-wing views and wrote: 'Hey fascist! Catch!' on one of the bullet casings he used.

At the Manhattan Criminal Court Mangione's supporters, who were mostly young and female, wore T-shirts in his honor including one which said: 'Luigi's Pizza, Brooklyn' – in reference to a restaurant in the city.

Some wore masks in another 'tribute' as he is said to have worn one while carrying out the assassination in a bid to disguise his identity.

Aeliana Boyer said that she was there because 'healthcare is a human right' and that she saw Mangione as a 'symbol'.

She said: 'I don't condone murder, murder is terrible, but I understand the frustration.'

Asked about Kirk's killing, she said: 'The only parallel I see is that the United States has no gun reform. Mangione does not seem as far right as the guy who killed Charlie Kirk. There's so many guns.'

Gladys Sharpp, 22, a home health aide, was standing with her friend, who only gave her name as Jasmin.

Both were dressed in the same green as Luigi from the Super Mario Bros. video games, held up pro-Luigi posters and even had a computer display with his name on their backpacks.

The suspected killer of Charlie Kirk, Tyler Robinson, 22, was accused of engraving messages into the bullet casings, drawing alleged similarities to Mangione's case
The killings of Kirk and  Thompson have drawn comparisons due to the similarities in the engraved bullets, the alleged use of violence as a symbolic message and the sharply divided public reaction 
Kirk was killed less than a week ago in a case that has drawn parallels with the killing of UnitedHealthcare executive Brian Thompson
The Manhattan District Attorney claims that Mangione shot Thompson, 50, a father-of-two, outside the Hilton hotel in Midtown Manhattan on December 4 last year

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Sharpp said: 'We're here because we both support Luigi for what he did, taking a bite out of corruption of the healthcare industry.

'I'm a home health aide myself so I feel a big part of why he did it, I understand why he did it.

'He was the one that decided it was ok to take a bite out of corruption. Going the violent way is not always the best way but I support what he did. How many people can say they'd stand there and do that same thing?'

Sharpp said she 'could see the comparison' with the killing of Kirk.

She said: 'I understand there's some people who think it's wrong what he (Mangione) did but me and my friends are in solidarity for what he did.

'Violence is wrong but it comes to a point where you've tried every option, violence should not be looked down upon'.

Mangione's supporters have raised more than $1.2million for his legal defense fund despite the seriousness of the allegations against him.

Prosecutors claim that after the murder, Mangione fled New York and was arrested days later at a McDonald's in Altoona, Pennsylvania, 200 miles away.

In court, fans put their hands over their faces and smiled, with some even shedding tears 
Despite the serious allegations he faces, Mangione's supporters have rallied behind him, raising more than $1.2million for his legal defense fund

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Police allegedly found a notebook in his backpack in which he wrote that killing Thompson was 'targeted, precise, and doesn't risk innocents'.

Police believe Mangione saw the execution as a 'symbolic takedown' and that he saw himself as a 'hero'.

Mangione separately faces federal charges including murder through the use of a firearm, firearms offense and two counts of stalking.

The federal charges state that he killed Thompson 'in furtherance of an act of terrorism' and as a 'crime of terrorism'.

The allegation of murder with a firearm makes Mangione eligible for the death penalty in the federal case.

Attorney General Pam Bondi has said she will pursue his execution if he is convicted.

In a prophetic legal filing late last month, prosecutors in the federal case warned that Mangione was trying to inspire others to do what he did.

'Simply put, the defendant hoped to normalize the use of violence to achieve ideological or political objectives,' they stated.

'Since the murder, certain quarters of the public - who openly identify as acolytes of the defendant - have increasingly begun to view violence as an acceptable, or even necessary, substitute for reasoned political disagreement.'

Mangione also faces gun charges in Pennsylvania where he was arrested and will have to appear there on November 7.

He has denied all the allegations.