Luigi Mangione, an Ivy League graduate hailing from a prominent healthcare family in Maryland, was not someone people typically associated with criminal activity. Yet, in December 2024, his life took an unexpected turn when he was charged with the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in a daring daylight attack.

Now, Mangione is at the center of a high-profile case that has transfixed the nation. Updates on his case and trial.

Who Is Luigi Mangione?

Born in Towson, Maryland, in 1998 to Kathleen and Louis “Lou” Mangione, Luigi has two siblings. He stood out academically, graduating as valedictorian from The Gilman School in Baltimore, Maryland, in 2016. According to his profile on X, he later earned both an “M.S.E. and B.S.E. in Computer Science” from the University of Pennsylvania.

What Did Luigi Mangione Allegedly Do?

The tragic event unfolded on the morning of December 4, 2024. Thompson was making his way to an investor conference at the Hilton Midtown hotel in Manhattan when he was shot. The assailant first targeted his back, causing Thompson to collapse against a wall, before walking up to him and delivering two additional shots to his chest.

Witnesses described a seemingly targeted attack that sent bystanders into a panic. Thompson, a father of two, was transported to a nearby hospital where he later died from his injuries.

Did Luigi Mangione Confess?

Mangione was taken into custody at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, five days after Thompson was gunned down. According to law enforcement, Mangione was allegedly found with the suspected murder weapon, several fake IDs and a handwritten manifesto that featured anti-healthcare industry rants. Investigators claimed the Maryland native planned the attack and viewed Thompson as a symbol of everything wrong with America’s corporate healthcare system.

Mangione was hit with several federal charges, including murder through the use of a firearm, which could make him eligible for the death penalty. Other charges include stalking resulting in death, using a silencer during a violent crime, and multiple weapons offenses.

At the state level, New York charged him with second-degree murder and three counts of illegal weapons possession. While New York State doesn’t allow the death penalty, federal prosecutors announced they’ll be seeking it in Mangione’s case and cited the calculated nature of the shooting and the public setting where it took place.

Mangione also faces multiple charges in Pennsylvania, including forgery, carrying a gun without a license, and more. He pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Why Is Luigi Mangione’s Trial a Federal Case?

Even though the shooting happened in New York, Mangione’s case quickly became a federal matter. The prosecutors claimed he crossed state lines with a weapon while allegedly stalking his victim, which turned the incident into an interstate crime. Plus, the murder involved a firearm and a high-profile target. While Mangione faces charges in multiple states, the federal case is the one that could lead to a sentence on death row.

What Did Luigi Mangione Allegedly Say in His Manifesto?

According to investigators, Mangione allegedly had a handwritten manifesto with him at the time of his arrest. The pages reportedly included rants targeting the American healthcare system, which he described as “predatory” and “morally bankrupt.” Authorities said the manifesto painted Thompson as a symbol of everything Mangione claimed to hate about corporate America.

Law enforcement sources also told reporters that the document contained phrases like “profit over people” and accused healthcare executives of “commodifying human lives.” While the full contents haven’t been released publicly, prosecutors have pointed to the manifesto as evidence of premeditation and motive. However, Mangione’s legal team has not confirmed the alleged manifesto’s existence.

Luigi Mangione’s Perp Walk Whipped the Public Into a Frenzy

Since his arrest, Mangione has gained a bit of a cult following, with some even painting him as an anti-hero. But his attorney, Karen Friedman Agnifilo, spoke out about the attention, and she worried that his notoriety could affect his chance at a fair trial.

“I am very concerned about my client’s right to a fair trial in this case. He is being prejudiced by some statements made by public officials,” Friedman Agnifilo said in a statement, per ABC News. “He is a young man, and he is being treated like a human ping pong ball.”

Surrounded by heavily armed officers, and even NYC Mayor Eric Adams, Mangione’s perp walk quickly went viral. The internet was flooded with memes and jokes framing Mangione as a superhero, as opposed to a villain.

“If you’re trying to make him the coolest guy alive, you’re doing a good job. If you are trying to point out how much money of ours you waste …. you’re also doing a good job,” one person wrote via X.

Does Luigi Mangione Have a GoFundMe?

A campaign to raise money for Mangione was initially created on GoFundMe, but in December 2024, the platform removed it.

“GoFundMe’s Terms of Service prohibit fundraisers for the legal defense of violent crimes,” a representative for the platform said in a statement, per NBC News.

Those who donated to Mangione’s GoFundMe were refunded their money.

Shortly after Mangione’s page was removed from GoFundMe, another campaign was created on GiveSendGo, a Christian fundraising site. The page dedicated to Mangione explains that the money raised “will be disbursed to Luigi’s attorneys who will be handling the extensive expenses associated with the legal defense for three separate, unprecedented pending criminal cases.”

As of April 2025, the campaign had raised over $900,000.

When Does Luigi Mangione’s Trial Start?

Since his arrest, Mangione has made multiple court appearances, but his actual trial has yet to be scheduled. His legal team has pushed back against prosecutors and argued that his rights were violated during the arrest. Mangione’s attorneys also claimed he wasn’t read his Miranda rights and that DNA evidence was collected illegally.

On April 1, 2025, Attorney General Pam Bondi released a statement announcing that federal prosecutors would seek the death penalty for Mangione.

“Luigi Mangione’s murder of Brian Thompson, an innocent man and father of two young children, was a premeditated, cold-blooded assassination that shocked America. After careful consideration, I have directed federal prosecutors to seek the death penalty in this case as we carry out President Trump’s agenda to stop violent crime and Make America Safe Again.”

However, in legal documents obtained by In Touch, Mangione’s legal team says the death penalty push is more political theater than a pursuit of justice. In a new motion filed on April 11, 2025, the defense argued that Bondi had ignored standard death penalty protocol and turned Mangione’s case into a publicity stunt to back “President Trump’s agenda.”

Mangione’s next federal court date is set for April 18, 2025, followed by a state hearing on June 26.