Luigi Mangione Makes NY State Court Appearance In UnitedHealthcare CEO Shooting Case

Topline

Luigi Mangione, the 26-year-old charged in the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, appeared at a Manhattan courthouse Friday for a hearing on his state murder and terror charges.

Key Facts

Mangione walked into the Manhattan Criminal Court at about 2:25 p.m. EST on Friday, marking Mangione’s first court appearance since his arraignment on state charges in December 2024.

Judge Gregory Carro will likely set paperwork deadlines and a trial date during Mangione’s appearance, CNN reported.

Mangione has pleaded not guilty to 11 state charges in New York, including one count of first-degree murder in furtherance of an act of terrorism, two counts of second-degree murder, seven weapons possession-related charges and one charge of possessing a forged instrument, as he was arrested while in possession of a fake ID.

If convicted, Mangione—who is being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn—faces a maximum penalty of life in prison without the possibility of parole.

What To Watch For

Mangione will also appear in court on March 19 for a hearing on his federal charges, including murder through use of a firearm, two stalking charges and a firearms offense. Mangione could face the death penalty if convicted, which is not an option in the state charges against him.

What Evidence Do Prosecutors Say They Have Against Mangione?

Police said writings found on Mangione at the time of his arrest were “written admissions of the crime” and indicated “some ill will toward corporate America.” Mangione’s writings reportedly included an apology for “any strife or traumas but it had to be done,” adding, “Frankly, these parasites simply had it coming.” Law enforcement officials also say they found the words “deny,” “defend” and “depose” on bullet casings at the scene, echoing a phrase often used to criticize insurance company tactics to reject claims. New York Police Department Commissioner Jessica Tisch said a gun found on Mangione “looks very similar” to the gun used in the killing and had a “similar suppressor.” Fingerprints on a water bottle and protein bar found near the crime scene also reportedly matched Mangione’s. His attorneys have disputed ballistics and fingerprint evidence police say they have against him, suggesting the two forms of evidence have “come under criticism in the past.”

Key Background

Thompson, 50, was shot from behind outside of a New York City hotel on the morning of Dec. 4, 2024. Police initially said they believed the shooting was a “brazen targeted attack” before saying it was likely the suspect had fled the city on a bus. Photos of the suspected shooter—whose face was covered by a mask and hood—were released publicly before Mangione was recognized at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania. Mangione’s mother reported him missing in November 2024, and people close to the Mangione family told the Wall Street Journal in December he had gone “off the grid six months to a year ago” and cut communications with those close to him. Magione was initially charged in Pennsylvania, including forgery and carrying firearms without a license, before federal and New York state prosecutors unsealed murder charges against him. Mangione’s legal team previously said he would plead not guilty to all charges.

Further Reading