The Mangione defense team has asked a federal judge to throw out several serious charges, including one that allows the death penalty. Luigi Mangione, 27, faces prosecution for the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Investigators linked Mangione to the shooting after tracking his movements across multiple states.
Prosecutors charged Mangione with murder using a firearm, stalking across state lines that led to death, and using a silencer in a violent crime. However, the Mangione defense team claims these charges don’t meet legal requirements for capital punishment.
In their motion, attorneys argued that stalking doesn’t always involve physical violence or threats. Therefore, they believe it cannot support a death penalty case. The legal team also challenged how police obtained critical evidence. They say officers searched Mangione’s backpack without getting a warrant.
Police arrested Mangione inside a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania. During the arrest, officers found a handgun, bullets, fake ID, and a handwritten manifesto. Defense lawyers want that evidence excluded from trial. They claim police violated Mangione’s constitutional rights by skipping the warrant process.
They also argue that officers questioned Mangione without reading his Miranda rights. According to the defense, that mistake makes his statements unusable in court. Federal prosecutors argue that Mangione planned the killing and used digital tools to stalk Thompson. They believe the evidence supports that claim.
Investigators say a masked shooter killed Thompson outside a hotel in Manhattan. The gunman shot three times before escaping. Mangione entered a not guilty plea in both state and federal courts. A grand jury later dropped two terrorism-related charges filed in New York.
Court officials confirmed Mangione remains in federal custody at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. Legal analysts say the judge’s ruling could affect how courts apply the death penalty in stalking-related crimes.
Healthcare executives across the country have increased security in response to the case. The judge plans to set a trial date during the next hearing, which will decide whether the charges hold. If the court dismisses these charges, federal prosecutors may need to shift their entire legal strategy.
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