In a new turn of events, lawyers representing Luigi Mangione, who is accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, are attempting to suppress evidence collected from his backpack, despite having lost a similar case in federal court earlier this year. Prosecutors argue that the search was justified, as they reportedly found the murder weapon and a manifesto criticizing the health insurance industry within the bag.
On December 4, 2024, Mangione allegedly shot Thompson, 50, in the back outside a hotel in Manhattan, where a shareholder meeting was set to take place that morning.
After Thompson’s murder, authorities say Mangione fled to Altoona, Pennsylvania, where he was identified by McDonald’s employees who recognized him from a wanted poster.
The defense disputes the legality of the bag’s search following Mangione’s arrest, asserting that New York state laws concerning search and seizure should apply since the case is now in trial. According to court documents, Mangione’s attorneys noted that officers searched his backpack multiple times within eight hours before obtaining a warrant, arguing that it was no longer his property at that point. They stated that claims of searching for dangerous materials like bombs were mere pretexts.
Defense attorney Karen Friedman Agnifilo spotlighted serious concerns about the circumstances surrounding the evidence collection, claiming, “The totality of the circumstances shows that the officers’ claims about the bomb were patently false to justify conducting an examination of the evidence.” She also asserted that police did not properly document non-evidence items in the bag and improperly accessed Mangione’s diary without a warrant.
According to the documents, an Altoona police sergeant knowingly searched through Mangione’s diary for incriminating evidence and then shared those findings with the NYPD.
Mangione’s defense highlights that the initial responding officer should have been aware, given that he recognized Mangione from NYPD wanted posters, that the case fell under New York state law. They also contend that some police procedures, including searches at the precinct, were inappropriate.
The defense claims that one officer aimed to “take credit” for finding the alleged murder weapon, emphasizing that he ensured that his body camera was on before he opened the compartment where the gun was found.
Facing a felony murder charge, Mangione has seen some charges dismissed in both state and federal courts. If convicted of the remaining charges, he won’t face the death penalty or life without parole in New York.
In a related case, a federal judge recently ruled that the evidence from the backpack could be admitted in Mangione’s federal trial, which also removed the death penalty as a potential outcome.
Meanwhile, there is uncertainty over whether Mangione will continue to have access to one of his leading lawyers, as federal authorities have raised questions regarding ongoing taxpayer funding for his legal defense.
Both trials are set to commence later this year, though the timeline is still under review. Thompson, a father of two, was in New York City for meetings with Wall Street investors when he was tragically gunned down by Mangione, who approached him from behind.
The judge overseeing the state case, Gregory Caro, is expected to announce his decision regarding the suppression motion on May 18, coinciding with Mangione’s next state-level hearing.
