Lawyers for Luigi Mangione are again asking a federal judge in New York to block the Justice Department’s attempt to seek the death penalty if he is convicted in the assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, arguing that the government is pursuing capital punishment for political purposes and that top officials have inappropriately discussed the proceedings outside of court.
Mangione, a 27-year-old former Ivy Leaguer from a wealthy Maryland family, allegedly stalked Thompson to New York City, then shot him in the back on a sidewalk just steps from a hotel where the victim was supposed to meet Wall Street investors for a shareholder conference later that morning.
After a photo of the grinning suspect went viral, police found him in Altoona, Pennsylvania, where he was arrested five days after the Dec. 4 ambush.
A screenshot from surveillance footage released by the NYPD showed an alleged person of interest wanted in connection with the shooting death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Midtown Manhattan on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024. (NYPD Crime Stoppers )
Additionally, the defense accused New York City leaders of overhyping and overcharging the state case, leaking details about a “manifesto,” a term they don’t want used, and anti-health insurance industry messages written on bullet casings connected to the murder.
The defense is asking for the court to dismiss the federal indictment outright, block the government from seeking the death penalty or strike the Justice Department’s notice of intent to seek the death penalty.
A surveillance image released by the NYPD shows the suspect in the shooting death of United Healthcare CEO, Brian Thompson on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024. (NYPD Crimestoppers)
Federal prosecutors previously shot back that the defense has no authority over how prosecutors present evidence to a grand jury.
Thompson, 50, was a Minnesota father of two visiting New York City for a publicly announced shareholder conference.
Mangione faces charges in New York, Pennsylvania and federal court in connection with the slaying and the suspected murder weapon, which had 3D-printed parts. He has pleaded not guilty.
