Luigi Mangione, the man accused of fatally shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in a high-profile incident in Manhattan earlier this month, pleaded not guilty to state murder charges during a court appearance on Monday. The 26-year-old faces multiple charges, including first-degree murder as an act of terrorism, in a case that has drawn national attention due to its dramatic circumstances and wide-ranging legal implications.
Mangione appeared in Manhattan Supreme Court dressed in a maroon sweater and khakis, his hands and feet shackled. His defense attorney, Karen Friedman Agnifilo, criticized the highly publicized nature of her client's transfer to New York, which included a heavily armed convoy and a helicopter landing, describing it as a "staged spectacle" that could prejudice potential jurors.
"It was the biggest perp walk I've ever seen," Friedman Agnifilo stated in court. "I am concerned about my client's right to a fair trial. He is being prejudiced by these statements, and no safeguards are in place. He's a young man being treated like a human ping-pong ball. "
Mangione is accused of gunning down Thompson outside a Manhattan hotel on December 4 in what authorities have described as a calculated act. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg called the murder "brazen and targeted," alleging that Mangione meticulously planned the killing for months. A notebook recovered during his arrest reportedly detailed Mangione's grievances against the health insurance industry and wealthy executives, which prosecutors argue was the motive for the killing.
In addition to the state charges, Mangione faces federal murder charges that could carry the death penalty. These include murder with a firearm, stalking, and related firearms offenses. He also faces weapons and forgery charges in Pennsylvania, where he was apprehended at a McDonald's following a five-day manhunt.
Defense attorney Friedman Agnifilo described the overlapping state and federal charges as "highly unusual" and accused prosecutors of overreaching. "Over three decades of prosecuting and defending criminal cases in New York, frankly, I've never seen anything like that what is happening here," she told reporters after the hearing.
Prosecutors contend that Mangione's actions were part of a larger attempt to spark public debate about perceived inequities in the health insurance industry. Federal prosecutors allege that Mangione sought to target Thompson, who had risen through the ranks at UnitedHealthcare to become CEO in April 2021, as a symbolic figure.
Brian Thompson, 50, was remembered by colleagues and friends as a dedicated professional and a kind individual. "Brian was a highly respected colleague and a friend to all who worked with him," UnitedHealth Group said in a statement. Raised in Iowa, Thompson's career spanned nearly two decades at UnitedHealthcare, where he oversaw government programs and Medicare services.
While prosecutors build their case, Mangione has garnered a small but vocal group of supporters who have expressed sympathy for his frustrations with the healthcare system. Demonstrators gathered outside the courthouse during Monday's hearing, with some calling for a broader conversation about the systemic issues Mangione allegedly sought to highlight.
Mangione remains detained at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, awaiting additional hearings. The next scheduled court appearance for evidence review in the state case is set for February 21, while a federal preliminary hearing is slated for January 18.
