NEW YORK (AP) — Lawyers representing Luigi Mangione filed a motion on Saturday seeking the dismissal of several criminal charges against him, including the key count that could result in the death penalty. Mangione is currently facing a federal indictment concerning the assassination of Brian Thompson, the chief executive of UnitedHealthcare, who was shot dead in December 2023.
In documents submitted to the federal court in Manhattan, Mangione's attorneys argued that prosecutors should be barred from utilizing his statements to police as well as evidence from his backpack, which contained a firearm and ammunition. The defense maintains that Mangione was not informed of his rights prior to being interrogated by law enforcement and that the authorities failed to secure a warrant before searching his backpack.
Mangione, 27, has pleaded not guilty to both state and federal accusations related to Thompson's fatal shooting on December 4, 2023. The incident occurred as Thompson arrived at a Manhattan hotel for his company's annual investor conference.
The aftermath of the shooting ignited a expansive multi-state manhunt, as the suspected shooter managed to escape the scene on a bicycle and then took a taxi to a bus depot servicing several nearby states. Five days later, a tip from a fast-food restaurant in Altoona, Pennsylvania, approximately 233 miles away, led to Mangione's arrest. Since then, he has been held without bail.
In their filing, defense lawyers detailed a chronological account of the police's apprehension of Mangione, including video evidence from body-worn cameras showing him compliant and sitting at a table wearing a mask. The document indicates that officials approached him after receiving reports of suspicious behavior.
Initially, Mangione provided a New Jersey driver’s license in someone else’s name when asked for identification. As he was about to eat, officers instructed him to stand with his hands on his head for a pat-down. Subsequently, one officer went outside to call for more backup, expressing a strong belief that Mangione was their suspect, leading to the arrival of several more officers.
The defense's recent submissions included requests for the federal charges against Mangione to be dropped due to public comments made by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, who had urged prosecutors in New York to seek the death penalty. Bondi described Thompson's killing as a “premeditated, cold-blooded assassination that shocked America.” While murder cases typically fall under state jurisdiction, prosecutors have also invoked federal law concerning murders linked to firearms, making the case eligible for the death penalty, a punishment not applicable in New York.
The defense contended that the charge in question should be dismissed because prosecutors have failed to elucidate the additional offenses required for conviction, asserting that the alleged secondary crime of stalking does not constitute a “crime of violence.”
The shocking nature of the assassination and its consequences have sparked significant public discourse, creating an atmosphere of resentment toward U.S. health insurers and raising security concerns among corporate executives. Following the shooting, investigators discovered ammunition inscribed with words such as "delay," "deny," and "depose," phrases that resonate with critiques directed at the insurance industry.
The case is ongoing, with the legal battle over these charges and the broader implications of the assassination continuing to unfold as it captures public attention nationwide.
