Luigi Mangione, the 26-year-old accused of murdering health insurance executive Brian Thompson on a Manhattan street, pleaded not guilty to New York state murder charges on Monday, which also include accusations of terrorism.
Mangione appeared in Judge Gregory Carro’s courtroom in lower Manhattan, shackled and handcuffed, escorted by a team of officers.
When asked by Judge Carro how he pleaded to the 11 charges, including murder as an act of terrorism and weapons-related offenses, Mangione simply said, “not guilty.”
If convicted, Mangione faces life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was shot dead on December 4 outside a Manhattan hotel, where his company was hosting an investor conference.
The shooting shocked the nation and sparked a five-day manhunt.
Despite public outrage over the murder, some individuals critical of high healthcare costs and the power of insurance companies have hailed Mangione as a figure of resistance.
Mangione was arrested at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, on December 9.
After choosing not to contest his extradition, he was flown to New York, where he was escorted from a helicopter surrounded by police officers, with New York City Mayor Eric Adams present.
His lawyer, Karen Friedman Agnifilo, expressed concern that this high-profile treatment could undermine Mangione’s right to a fair trial.
“They’re treating him like a political figure, not a person entitled to a fair trial,” Agnifilo said at the hearing. “He is not a symbol; he has a right to be tried fairly.”
Outside the courthouse, several dozen protesters braved freezing temperatures to show support for Mangione and voice their anger at healthcare companies.
One person held a sign with the words “DENY, DEFEND, DEPOSE,” a reference to tactics allegedly used by insurers to avoid paying claims.
These words were reportedly found written on shell casings at the crime scene.
Kara Hay, a 42-year-old teacher, argued against the terrorism charge, stating, “Shooting one CEO doesn’t make him a terrorist. I don’t feel terrorized.”
Hay carried a sign that read “innocent until proven guilty.”
After the 30-minute hearing, Mangione was escorted out of the courtroom and returned to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.
His next court date is set for February 21.
Mangione also faces federal charges related to the killing of Thompson, with accusations of stalking and murder.
He has not yet entered a plea in this case.
At a hearing on December 19, a federal judge ordered Mangione’s detention, and the federal charges could potentially lead to the death penalty if the U.S.
Attorney’s Office decides to pursue that option.
The state and federal cases will proceed simultaneously, with the state trial likely occurring first, according to federal prosecutors.
Agniifilo noted the difficulties of defending Mangione amid dual state and federal charges.
“He’s being bounced back and forth between these two jurisdictions,” she said.
She also expressed frustration that the Manhattan District Attorney’s office had yet to provide the defense with key evidence, a process known as discovery.
Prosecutors indicated they would soon begin sharing evidence.
A federal criminal complaint revealed that, upon Mangione’s arrest, authorities found a notebook containing handwritten pages with hostile sentiments towards the health insurance industry and wealthy executives.
One entry from October 22 allegedly detailed an intention to “wack” a CEO at an investor conference.
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