Luigi Mangione, a 27-year-old man accused of shooting and killing former UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, is scheduled to return to New York State Supreme Court. At this hearing, the judge is expected to make decisions about several requests from Mangione’s defense lawyers.
Mangione’s legal team wants the court to throw out the state murder charges against him. They argue that charging him in both state and federal court for the same killing breaks the Constitution’s rule against “double jeopardy,” which means a person should not be tried twice for the same crime. His lawyers are also asking the judge to block certain evidence from being used, including items taken when he was arrested and statements he gave to police at that time.
The case centers on the December 2024 killing of Brian Thompson, who was shot while walking toward a Midtown Manhattan hotel where UnitedHealthcare was holding its yearly investor conference. The shooting set off a nationwide manhunt. Investigators later said they found writings that may be connected to Mangione, along with bullets that had unusual words etched into them, such as “delay,” “deny,” and “depose.”
This case has been linked in the media to a growing pattern of politically motivated violence in the United States. One example that has been mentioned is the recent killing of activist Charlie Kirk in Utah.
For Mangione, this week’s appearance will be his first time in state court since February. His supporters regularly come to his hearings. They often wear green clothing and hold signs in support of him. Mangione has also received significant financial support online, raising more than $1.2 million in donations, many of them in small amounts.
If Mangione is found guilty in state court, he could spend the rest of his life in prison. But the federal government has already announced that it plans to seek the death penalty in its separate case against him. Mangione’s lawyers say the federal trial should happen first. They argue that if he is convicted in state court beforehand, it would be nearly impossible to find a fair and unbiased jury for the federal trial.
His defense team has also accused prosecutors of going too far. They claim the government obtained his private medical records illegally. They also argue that state and federal officials are secretly working together in a way that makes it harder for him to defend himself.
Another major point of disagreement is the terrorism charges. Prosecutors say Mangione’s actions were meant to send a political message, pointing to his alleged writings as proof. But his lawyers say the terrorism laws are meant for attacks that harm large numbers of people, not one individual. They also insist the writings were personal and private, never meant to be shared. According to them, police leaked the documents to make it look like Mangione was planning a terrorist act, when in fact he was not.
The judge will also review whether the court should block the use of certain evidence, including a gun, ammunition, and papers found in Mangione’s backpack, as well as comments he made after his arrest in Pennsylvania.
Because of the high level of public interest, press photographers are expected to be outside the courtroom. They will be allowed to take pictures of Mangione before the hearing starts.
