Luigi Mangione’s suppression hearings commenced on Monday at the New York State Supreme Court in Manhattan. His defense team contested the admission of evidence collected during his arrest on December 9, 2024. Key pieces of evidence discussed included a 911 call made by a McDonald’s manager, video footage of Mangione’s arrest in Altoona, Pennsylvania, and statements he allegedly made while in custody.
Details Surrounding the Case
Mangione faces serious second-degree murder charges linked to the shooting of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson. He has pleaded not guilty to both state and federal charges. His previous court appearance was in September, and the hearings are set to span multiple days. They aim to determine the admissibility of evidence gathered during his arrest.
Courtroom Appearances
On the day of the hearing, Mangione arrived in court at 10:45 a.m., dressed in a grey suit jacket and a patterned button-down shirt. During proceedings, he took notes while watching footage of both the arrest and the shooting of Thompson. Mangione frequently glanced toward approximately two dozen supporters present in the courtroom.
Evidence and Testimonies
The defense team, led by Karen Friedman Agnifilo, contended that law enforcement did not possess a warrant to search Mangione’s backpack during the arrest. This backpack allegedly contained a 3D-printed gun, a silencer, notebooks, and electronic devices.
911 Call and Arrest Video
Significant moments from the hearing included a recording of the 911 call received from the McDonald’s manager at 9:14 a.m. The manager expressed concerns about Mangione, noting customers were suspicious he resembled the “CEO shooter.” In the call, she described him as hard to see, mentioning only his eyebrows and clothing.
Video surveillance showed Mangione entering McDonald’s at 8:59 a.m. Police arrived at 9:28 a.m., where they approached him as he continued to eat. Ultimately, Mangione was handcuffed around 9:50 a.m., coinciding with the first images of him in custody.
Testimony from Corrections Officers
Two corrections officers provided insights during the hearing. Tomas Rivers, who interacted with Mangione while he was incarcerated, noted they discussed a range of topics including healthcare perceptions following the United Healthcare shooting. Rivers also mentioned that Mangione had expressed displeasure about media comparisons to infamous criminal Ted Kaczynski.
Matthew Henry, another correctional officer, testified that Mangione disclosed information about having a 3D-printed gun. Under cross-examination, Henry reiterated he had not prompted Mangione’s remark about the gun.
Defense Strategy
The defense aims to suppress statements Mangione made to law enforcement, claiming that his Fifth Amendment rights were violated due to the absence of Miranda warnings at the time of arrest. Additionally, they seek to exclude writings from Mangione’s notebooks as potential prejudicial evidence.
Support and Public Reaction
Outside the courtroom, Mangione’s supporters demonstrated fervently, camping out in cold weather with tents and heaters. They distributed wristbands reading, “We are with Luigi,” and created friendship bracelets. Messages highlighting concerns over missing body camera footage also surfaced among the group’s attire.
At a previous court appearance in September, the judge dismissed terrorism charges against Mangione, ruling the evidence insufficient. His next federal court appearance, where potential charges could carry a death penalty, is scheduled for January.
