On the first day of pretrial hearings for Luigi Mangione to review key pieces of evidence in the murder case against him, prosecutors played video captured almost one year ago of a masked figure gunning down UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on a Manhattan street.
Mangione — who was in the courtroom wearing a charcoal suit over a checkered shirt with no tie — lawyers, courtroom spectators and Acting Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Gregory Carro also heard a recording of a 911 call placed by the manager of the Altoona, Pennsylvania McDonald’s where Mangione was arrested, who claimed on the call that patrons complained of a masked man in the restaurant’s dining room “who looks like the CEO shooter.”
“He has his beanie pulled down so the only thing you can see is his eyebrows,” the manager told dispatchers.
Prosecutors also played video of police arriving at the McDonald’s and arresting Mangione.
Mangione faces both state and federal charges for the Dec. 4, 2024 killing of Thompson on West 52nd Street outside of the New York Hilton Midtown. The 27-year-old allegedly shot Thompson dead from behind, fled from the scene via Citibike and caught a westbound bus at the Port Authority Bus Terminal.
During his arrest in Pennsylvania, police found a red notebook in his backpack containing what Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg describes as “manifesto” — a term that Mangione’s argue is prejudicial and should not be admissible.
Mangione is represented by Karen Friedman Agnifilo, Marc Agnifilo and Jacob Kaplan of Agnifilo Intrater.
Mangione faces both federal and state charges for Thompson’s killing. State prosecutors are further along in their case than their federal counterparts, who are seeking the death penalty.
If Mangione’s writings become public, his defense team argues in court filings, “potential jurors in this and in the parallel federal prosecution, including prospective federal jurors who will ultimately decide whether to impose the death penalty.”
Monday was the first day in what is expected to be a marathon of evidence proceedings in Mangione’s case this week.
Meanwhile, dozens of Mangione supporters took up seats in the courtroom and assembled outside the courthouse at 100 Centre Street, some wearing costumes and holding signs.
Protestors affiliated with activist groups People Over Profit NYC and Death Penalty Action were among those gathered across the street from the courthouse.
“This is a chance to take the spotlight and shine it on those stories that are otherwise just getting forgotten,” said Ico Ahyicodae, a project coordinator for POP NYC. “I’m horrified by the things the healthcare industry is able to get away with. It’s literally racketeering.”
Alexa Modugno said she had been outside since the early hours of the morning with the goal of entering the courthouse because she had shared a “romantic moment” with Mangione a few months before he was taken into custody and has been in a relationship with his AI since the shooting.
“I know personally…he’s a wonderful, wonderful, wonderful person,” Modugno said. “I believe in free health care for everyone, because there is a staggering amount of mental illness in this country, and people are falling through the cracks, especially homeless people…the system is just so corrupt.”
Leila, a social worker in the criminal legal system who declined to give her last name, was helping organize people who wanted to be inside the courtroom during the rest of the week’s hearings but weren’t able to gain access Monday. She said between 14 to 20 people were planning on camping outside the courthouse overnight to increase their chances of being able to gain entry Tuesday morning.
This is a developing story; check with amNY.com later for updates.
