NEW YORK – Luigi Mangione is due back in federal court Friday as judges consider key issues in the closely watched case stemming from the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
What we know:
Mangione is scheduled to appear in federal court Friday at the courthouse at 40 Foley Square in Manhattan, with the hearing expected to begin at 11 a.m. The appearance is part of ongoing pretrial proceedings in his federal case.
The hearing comes as a judge continues to weigh challenges from Mangione’s defense over whether evidence seized during his arrest — including items found in a backpack he was carrying — can be used at trial.
Mangione has pleaded not guilty to federal and state charges connected to the December killing of Thompson, who was shot as he walked to a Midtown Manhattan hotel where UnitedHealth Group was holding an investor conference, according to the Associated Press.
(Photo by Curtis Means-Pool/Getty Images)
Prosecutors have not ruled out seeking the death penalty in the federal case, a decision that has not yet been made. Judges are also weighing disputes over evidence and scheduling as both the federal and state cases move forward.
Mangione is currently being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.
What we don’t know:
It is still unclear how the judge will rule on the defense’s request to suppress evidence taken from Mangione’s backpack following his arrest in Pennsylvania. Defense attorneys argue the bag was searched without a warrant, while prosecutors maintain officers acted within standard arrest and property procedures.
A decision on the issue could determine whether jurors are allowed to see key physical evidence if the case goes to trial.
ALL FOX 5 NY COVERAGE: LUIGI MANGIONE TRIAL Recent developments
The case drew renewed attention this week after authorities said a man showed up at the Brooklyn jail claiming to be an FBI agent and presenting what he said was a court order for Mangione’s release. Jail staff stopped the attempt, and the man was later charged with impersonating a federal officer, according to AP reporting.
Officials said the episode underscored the intense scrutiny and unusual circumstances surrounding the case, which has drawn national attention since Mangione’s arrest.
(Photo by Curtis Means-Pool/Getty Images)
The backstory:
Thompson, 50, was killed on Dec. 4, 2024. AP has reported that surveillance video showed a masked gunman shooting him from behind. Investigators have said words including “delay,” “deny” and “depose” were written on the ammunition used in the shooting.
Mangione was arrested days later and has since faced parallel state and federal cases. Manhattan prosecutors have pushed to move the state case toward trial, while federal prosecutors continue to pursue their own charges, creating a complex legal timeline.
What’s next:
Judges are expected to issue rulings in the coming weeks that could determine whether the federal case proceeds as a potential death-penalty prosecution and how quickly the case moves toward trial. Additional court appearances are expected as those decisions are finalized.
The Source: This article was written using information from Associated Press reporting and court appearance details.