NEW YORK (AP) – Luigi Mangione appeared in court on Monday, December 1, 2025, as prosecutors presented surveillance videos depicting the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on a Manhattan sidewalk last year. The footage included previously unseen clips from a McDonald’s in Pennsylvania, where Mangione was apprehended five days after the incident. This session initiated a hearing concerning Mangione's attempt to exclude certain evidence from his upcoming state murder trial, including a firearm believed to be the weapon used in the December 4, 2024, attack.
During the hearing, the 27-year-old Mangione remained composed as he viewed video clips showing two police officers approaching him while he was dining at the McDonald’s in Altoona, about 230 miles west of Manhattan. He pressed a finger to his lips and a thumb to his chin, displaying signs of tension as prosecutors presented a 911 call from the restaurant's manager. The manager expressed concerns from customers who thought Mangione resembled the shooter, noting that she had searched online for suspect photographs while he sat masked and beanie-clad.
After his arrest, Mangione was kept under strict supervision in a solitary housing unit at a Pennsylvania state prison to minimize the risk of information leaks to the media about his case. A correctional officer testified that this was in response to potential high-profile public interest, referencing the case of Jeffrey Epstein's suicide while in custody in 2019.
The defense is seeking to exclude crucial evidence from the trial, including a 9 mm handgun and a notebook in which Mangione allegedly expressed his intent to "wack" a health insurance executive. Both items were retrieved from a backpack he had at the time of his arrest. Mangione, educated at an Ivy League institution and from a wealthy family in Maryland, pleads not guilty to both state and federal murder charges, which could result in life imprisonment or the death penalty if convicted. No specific timeline for the trials has been announced.
In previous proceedings, Mangione’s lawyers successfully had state terrorism charges dismissed, focusing on what they describe as unconstitutional police conduct jeopardizing his right to a fair trial. They argue that the Manhattan District Attorney’s office should be barred from presenting the handgun and notebook to jurors due to the lack of a search warrant. Additionally, they want to suppress statements Mangione made to police officers, asserting that he was not informed of his right to remain silent before being questioned. Prosecutors contend that he voluntarily provided his name, Mark Rosario, when checking into a Manhattan hostel days before the shooting.
The defense also aims to exclude information Mangione shared with correctional officers from his arrest until his transfer to New York, where he discussed his travels and made various remarks, including one where he sought to understand media attention surrounding him. Testimony suggested that Mangione mentioned possessing a backpack with foreign currency and a 3D-printed firearm, raising questions regarding the legitimacy of how this information was obtained.
Visual evidence from the shooting showed a masked assailant fatally wounding Thompson from behind, while prosecutors cited notations found on the ammunition reflecting a plan that mimicked actions often attributed to the insurance industry’s evasion of accountability. The implications of removing the gun and notebook from trial proceedings would significantly weaken the prosecution’s case, denying them a potential murder weapon and key evidence they claim illustrates Mangione's motive. The prosecutors referenced materials that indicated his admiration for notorious figures, including "Unabomber" Theodore Kaczynski, with hints about rebelling against the "greed-fueled health insurance cartel."
The hearing is expected to span more than a week, coinciding with the first anniversary of Thompson’s death. Court officials indicated that more than two dozen witnesses might be called by the prosecution, highlighting the extensive interest and ramifications of this high-profile case. Mangione appeared in court dressed in formal attire, as he was allowed to forgo jail garb during the proceedings, while supporters gathered at the back of the courtroom, showcasing their solidarity.
