Luigi Mangione arrives at Manhattan state court in New York on Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025. (AP Photo)
Lawyers for Luigi Mangione have asked a New York federal judge to drop several charges against their client, including the one that could lead to the death penalty, in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson last December.
In a filing submitted Saturday in Manhattan federal court, Mangione’s lawyers argued that prosecutors mishandled parts of the case and violated his constitutional rights.
They said statements made by Mangione after his arrest should not be allowed in court because officers did not read him his rights before questioning him. The defence also wants the court to exclude evidence from his backpack, where a gun and ammunition were found, saying police searched it without a warrant.
Details of the Arrest
Mangione, 27, faces both state and federal murder charges in Thompson’s death. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Prosecutors say Mangione shot Thompson outside a Manhattan hotel on December 4, just as the CEO was arriving for his company’s annual investor conference. The gunman then fled the scene, cycling through Central Park before catching a taxi to a bus depot and escaping the city.
A five-day manhunt across several states followed. Police eventually arrested Mangione at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, about 375 kilometres from New York City, after receiving a tip from a restaurant employee.
According to the new filing, Mangione cooperated fully during his arrest. Body camera footage included in the filing shows him sitting quietly at a table, wearing a white mask that covered most of his face.
The lawyers said police first approached him after receiving a call that he looked suspicious. When officers asked for ID, Mangione handed over a New Jersey driver’s licence in another person’s name. Officers then ordered him to stand and placed his hands on his head while they frisked him.
Within minutes, several more officers arrived. The defence claims police were already convinced Mangione was the suspect before questioning or searching him, which they say violated his rights.
Challenging the Federal Charge
Mangione’s lawyers are focusing on the federal murder charge tied to the use of a firearm during a “crime of violence.” It’s the only charge that could make him eligible for the death penalty, which is not permitted under New York state law.
The filing argues that prosecutors have failed to identify the other crimes that justify the federal charge, saying the supposed underlying offence — stalking — does not legally count as a violent crime.
Last month, the defence also asked for the death penalty to be taken off the table entirely, citing comments from U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, who called the killing a “cold-blooded assassination that shocked America.”
Aftermath of the Killing
The assassination of Brian Thompson, one of the country’s most prominent healthcare executives, caused shock and outrage across the nation. Many criticized the incident as a reflection of growing anger toward large U.S. insurance companies.
Investigators later found bullets at the scene marked with the words “delay,” “deny,” and “depose” — a phrase often used by critics of the insurance industry.
Mangione remains in custody without bail as the court considers his lawyers’ latest motion.
