Even early on, the killing of Mr. Thompson, who was a father of two, was also immediately recognized as an abhorrent crime. Mr. Mangione was charged in both state and federal courts, and the U.S. Attorney General talked of pursuing the death penalty.<\/p>\n
On Friday, the victim\u2019s family released a statement after the plea, asking for a sentence that matched the seriousness of the crime that killed Mr. Thompson.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile nothing will ease the pain of losing him,\u201d the statement read, \u201cwe are grateful that the federal justice system has held the person responsible for this heinous act accountable.\u201d<\/p>\n
Before Mr. Mangione admitted his guilt on Friday, some online supporters were adamant that he should be freed or was innocent, raising questions about his arrest and whether law enforcement officials properly handled the evidence in the case.<\/p>\n
Fans developed a cultlike following that glamorized his appearance and used the facts of the case to support their own theories. Some went as far as spewing vitriolic and hateful speech toward Mr. Thompson and his family.<\/p>\n
Just two months after his arrest, Mr. Mangione began cataloging the first of thousands of pieces of fan mail<\/a> that he said arrived at his Brooklyn jail cell. \u201cWhile it is impossible for me to reply to most letters, please know that I read every one that I receive,\u201d he wrote in a log that is posted to a website<\/a> created in the name of his legal defense.<\/p>\n Some supporters, claiming to back his legal fund, set up a store to sell merchandise, including T-shirts that read \u201cdeny, defend, depose,\u201d some of the words that the authorities said were engraved on the bullet casings found at the scene of the shooting. Fans camped outside courthouses to catch a glimpse of him heading to hearings. A Levi\u2019s hooded jacket<\/a> similar to the one he wore when he shot Mr. Thompson and a maroon sweater<\/a> he wore for a court appearance quickly sold out.<\/p>\n