Luigi Mangione, accused of fatally shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in a brazen midtown Manhattan attack, returns to court Monday as his defense team seeks to suppress key evidence seized during his arrest. The hearing could shape the trajectory of both his state murder case and a separate federal death penalty prosecution.
What to Know:
- Mangione, 27, was arrested at a Pennsylvania McDonald’s after a days-long manhunt.
- Police recovered a handgun, a loaded magazine, and a notebook from his backpack; the defense argues the search was illegal.
- Prosecutors say the gun matches ballistic evidence from the crime scene, and the writings show intent.
- Defense attorney Karen Friedman-Agnifilo calls the writings “prejudicial” and objects to the term “manifesto.”
- Judge Gregory Carro previously dismissed terrorism-related charges but left nine counts pending.
- Federal prosecutors are pursuing a separate death penalty case, with a hearing set for January 9.
- Monday’s state hearing is expected to last several days, with witnesses including a 911 operator and McDonald’s staff.
Stay with Newsweek for the latest updates.
Dec 01, 2025 at 08:24 AM EST
Who did Luigi Mangione allegedly shoot? What to know about Brian Thompson

Brian Thompson, the chief executive of UnitedHealthcare, was gunned down in Manhattan on December 4, 2024, while heading into a hotel for an investors’ meeting. His death shocked the healthcare industry and drew national attention to the vulnerabilities facing corporate leaders.
Thompson, 50, had led UnitedHealthcare — the largest private insurer in the U.S. — since April 2021. He joined the company in 2004 and rose steadily through the ranks after beginning his career at PwC. A graduate of the University of Iowa, he earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1997.
At the time of his death, Thompson was facing a class-action lawsuit alleging insider trading tied to a Justice Department antitrust investigation. Despite the legal scrutiny, colleagues described him as a respected leader and friend.
His widow, Paulette, said Thompson had received threats related to medical coverage before the shooting. The family held a private funeral in Minnesota, remembering him as a devoted father of two and a generous man who “touched so many lives.”
Dec 01, 2025 at 08:18 AM EST
What was found in Luigi Mangione’s backpack?
Court records detail the items seized from Luigi Mangione’s backpack when he was arrested in Pennsylvania following the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
According to an automatic discovery form filed March 26, 2025, the bag contained a handgun, Glock magazine, 9 mm cartridges, and a silencer. Investigators also recovered a knife, duct tape, zip ties, a passport, clothing, a computer, a phone charger, and handwritten notes.
Dec 01, 2025 at 08:13 AM EST
What was Luigi Mangione’s alleged motive?
Court filings show that Luigi Mangione’s writings outlined a clear intent to target the health insurance industry before the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in December 2024. A red notebook seized during his arrest in Pennsylvania contained entries describing frustration with insurers and a desire to make a public statement through violence.
Prosecutors say the diary reveals Mangione believed killing Thompson at an investor conference would highlight what he saw as corporate greed while avoiding harm to bystanders. In one entry, he rejected the idea of a bombing, writing that such attacks would be dismissed as terrorism and undermine his message. Instead, he described a “targeted, precise” act meant to draw attention to the industry’s practices.
Authorities argue that the writings demonstrate ideological motivation and are directly connected to the crime. Mangione has pleaded not guilty to all charges, while his attorneys contend the notebook and other evidence were obtained illegally and should be excluded from trial.
Dec 01, 2025 at 08:09 AM EST
Who is Luigi Mangione? What to know
Luigi Mangione, 27, remains at the center of one of the most closely watched criminal cases in recent memory. He is accused of fatally shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Manhattan on December 4, 2024, an attack that triggered a nationwide manhunt and his eventual arrest in Pennsylvania five days later.
Mangione was indicted on multiple state and federal charges, including murder and weapons offenses. Federal prosecutors are pursuing the death penalty, while New York state proceedings continue after a judge dismissed terrorism-related counts in September 2025. He still faces a second-degree murder charge and several weapons charges.
Since his arrest, Mangione has become a polarizing figure. Some supporters have cast him as a folk hero, linking his actions to widespread frustration with the health insurance industry. Polling shows most Americans view him negatively, though younger and more liberal respondents are more likely to express sympathy.
Dec 01, 2025 at 08:04 AM EST
Luigi Mangione is back in court today: Here’s why
...Luigi Mangione, accused of gunning down UnitedHealth CEO Brian Thompson in Manhattan last year, is back in New York state court Monday for a pivotal hearing that could determine what evidence jurors ultimately see.
Mangione, 27, faces nine state charges and four federal counts that carry the possibility of the death penalty. His attorneys are challenging the legality of police searches and statements made during his arrest, arguing investigators violated his constitutional rights.
Judge Gregory Carro will preside over two hearings: a Mapp hearing to decide whether physical evidence — including a handgun and a red notebook seized from Mangione’s backpack — was lawfully obtained, and a Huntley hearing to determine whether his statements to police were admissible.
Defense lawyers contend the notebook’s contents are prejudicial and should be excluded, objecting to prosecutors’ description of the writings as a “manifesto.” They also argue Mangione was questioned without proper Miranda warnings and that the backpack search was conducted without a warrant.
The proceedings are expected to last several days, with prosecutors planning to call dozens of witnesses, including some from Pennsylvania, where Mangione was arrested after a five-day manhunt.
Mangione has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
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