Luigi Mangione Faces Not Guilty Plea for State Murder and Terrorism Charges in the Killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO

The individual accused by prosecutors of fatally shooting the chief executive of UnitedHealthcare has entered a not guilty plea to charges of murder, terrorism, and several other counts filed by New York state prosecutors.

Luigi Mangione, age 26, delivered his not guilty plea through a microphone during a court session in Manhattan on Monday morning. He had been formally charged the previous week with multiple murder counts, including murder characterized as an act of terrorism, by the Manhattan District Attorney’s office.

Mangione’s counsel, Karen Friedman Agnifilo, expressed concerns regarding the defendant’s chances of receiving a fair trial, citing the presence of New York City Mayor Eric Adams in photographs walking behind Mangione as he arrived in Manhattan under heavy police presence.

“He’s a young man and he’s being treated like a human ping-pong ball by two warring jurisdictions here,” she remarked to the judge on Monday. “They’re treating him like a human spectacle.”

Judge Gregory Carro of the state trial court responded to Mangione’s attorney, stating that he has limited influence over events outside the courtroom, but assured her that Mangione would receive a fair trial.

The next court date is scheduled for February 21, 2025, according to reports from the courthouse.

Related Stories

According to prosecutors, Mangione fatally shot UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson earlier this December while Thompson was on his way to a conference in Manhattan with investors. Mangione was apprehended at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, following a multi-day manhunt.

Authorities report that Mangione possessed a firearm that matched the one used in Thompson’s killing. Additionally, he was found with a fake ID and a notebook expressing hostility towards the health insurance sector and its executives, as claimed by federal prosecutors.

Prior to his arrest, officials characterized Mangione’s attack on Thompson as “brazen” and “targeted,” highlighting that Thompson was shot in broad daylight on a busy Manhattan street in the presence of bystanders. Video evidence captured an individual in a hooded jacket or sweatshirt approaching Thompson from behind before discharging multiple shots towards him.

When Mayor Adams was seen walking behind Mangione during his arrest, he stated that he aimed to deliver a message.

“I wanted to look him in the eye and say you carried out this terroristic act in my city—the city that the people of New York love,” the mayor told a local news outlet.

“This was a frightening, well-planned, targeted murder that was meant to instill shock, attention, and intimidation,” Bragg remarked. “It took place in one of the busiest areas of our city, threatening the safety of local residents, tourists, commuters, and professionals just starting their day.”

Thompson, a married father of two, had spent two decades at UnitedHealth Group, which manages UnitedHealthcare, and became CEO of the insurance division in 2021. His spouse informed NBC News earlier this month that Thompson had received threats, although she did not provide further details.

The murder spurred a portion of social media users to commend Mangione while criticizing the health insurance industry, an action that has faced backlash from several elected U.S. officials.

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro condemned the sentiment, characterizing Mangione as a “coward, not a hero,” and denounced the notion as “vigilante justice.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.