Luigi Mangione pleads not guilty to state murder, terrorism charges in UnitedHealthcare CEO assassination

NEW YORK — Luigi Mangione pleaded not guilty in a New York courtroom Monday to state charges in the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson earlier this month outside a Manhattan hotel. 

His next court appearance was set for Feb. 21. 

State prosecutors allege Mangione was found in possession of what is believed to be the murder weapon, and surveillance videos show a man matching his description before and after the attack, including outside the Hilton where Thompson was shot in the back.

A key difference between the state and federal charges Mangione faces is that the state argues the shooting was an act of terrorism. Additionally, the federal charges open the possibility of the death penalty.

Mangione, 26, is being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn after he appeared in federal court last week.

What happened during Luigi Mangione’s court appearance

Mangione entered court with his hands and feet shackled. He was wearing a maroon sweater over a white collared shirt and khaki pants. 

Mangione leaned forward and said “not guilty” into a microphone when the judge asked him to enter his plea. 

He spoke quietly and extensively with his attorneys during his brief court appearance. HIs hands were unshackled long enough for him to sign some papers.

Mangione was flanked by four officers as he sat in the courtroom. 

Prosecutors said in court they have been assured by federal prosecutors that the state case will move forward prior to the federal trial. 

Mangione’s attorney Karen Friedman Agnifilo requested immediate, expedited discovery in the case. Prosecutors said the amount of discovery material is voluminous, including thousands of hour of surveillance video. 

“He is being treated like a human ping pong ball” 

Friedman Agnifilo said Mangione is facing two proceedings, one of them with the possibility of the death penalty, and she told the court she’s “very concerned” about Mangione’s ability to get a fair trial, saying statements made by government officials have been prejudicial. 

“He is a young man and he is being treated like a human ping pong ball, between two warring jurisdictions here. These federal and state prosecutors are coordinating with one another at the expense of him. They have conflicting theories in their indictments, and they are literally treating him like he is some sort of political fodder, like some sort of spectacle,” Friedman Agnifilo said. “He was on display for everyone to see in the biggest staged perp walk I’ve ever seen in my career. It was absolutely unnecessary. He’s been cooperative with law enforcement. He had been in custody for over a week. He waived extradition.” 

Friedman Agnifilo also took issue with Mayor Eric Adams’ presence when Mangione was returned to New York was “political.” 

“He’s not a symbol. He’s somebody who’s afforded the right to a fair trial. He’s innocent until proven guilty. And the mayor was talking to jurors, future potential jurors, those are the people that elected him that he is talking to, and calling this man a terrorist,” Friedman Agnifilo said. “I just want to make a record of this and put everyone on notice that this has to stop, and my client is entitled to a fair trial and the presumption of innocence.” 

Among the long line of reporters who were waiting to get into the courtroom Monday morning, there were also members of the public – almost all of them young women – a few of whom told CBS News New York’s Ali Bauman they were there to support Mangione. Outside the courthouse, CBS News New York’s Lisa Rozner reported there were about two dozen people gathered to show support for Mangione. 

As Mangione left court, some of the women in attendance gave him a thumbs up. 

Mangione facing both state and federal charges

Mangione was flanked by heavily armed guards as he was extradited from Pennsylvania to New York last Thursday. He then appeared in federal court on stalking and murder charges.

In a statement, his attorney Friedman Agnifilo called the federal charges “highly unusual,” saying they raise “serious constitutional and statutory double jeopardy concerns.”

The federal complaint revealed Mangione was found with a notebook containing handwritten pages that “express hostility towards the health insurance industry and wealthy executives in particular.”

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg says his office is working with the federal government and, while the cases are happening simultaneously, the trials will have to happen at different times. Acting U.S. Attorney Edward Kim said he expects the state case to proceed first.