The legal team representing Luigi Mangione has formally requested a New York federal judge to dismiss several criminal charges, including the most severe one that could lead to the death penalty. These charges stem from a federal indictment related to the December assassination of UnitedHealthcare’s chief executive.
Documents submitted to the Manhattan federal court detail the defense’s argument that prosecutors should be barred from using statements Mangione made to law enforcement and items discovered in his backpack, specifically a gun and ammunition, as evidence during the trial.
The defense contends that Mangione’s constitutional rights were violated, asserting he was not properly informed of his rights before being questioned by officers. His arrest followed the fatal shooting of Brian Thompson, which occurred as the CEO arrived at a Manhattan hotel for an investor conference.
Furthermore, his lawyers argue that officers conducted an illegal search of Mangione’s backpack without first obtaining a warrant.
Mangione, 27, has maintained his innocence, pleading not guilty to both state and federal charges in connection with the Dec. 4 shooting of Brian Thompson, which took place outside a Manhattan hotel during his company’s annual investor conference.
The shocking killing sparked an extensive multi-state manhunt. The suspected assailant reportedly fled the scene on a bicycle to Central Park, then took a taxi to a bus depot, making a getaway to a neighboring state.
Five days after the incident, a crucial tip from a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania — approximately 233 miles (375 kilometers) away — led authorities to Mangione’s arrest. He has remained incarcerated without bail ever since.
Just last month, Mangione’s legal team sought the dismissal of federal charges and the removal of the death penalty as a possibility, citing public remarks made by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi. In April, Bondi had explicitly instructed New York prosecutors to pursue capital punishment, describing Thompson’s death as a “premeditated, cold-blooded assassination that shocked America.”
While murder cases typically fall under state jurisdiction, prosecutors have also brought charges against Mangione under a federal law concerning murders committed with firearms as part of other “crimes of violence.” This federal charge is particularly significant as it’s the sole count for which Mangione could face the death penalty, a punishment not applicable in New York state courts.
The legal documents submitted on Saturday, October 11, 2025, contend that this federal charge should be dismissed. The defense argues that prosecutors have not adequately identified the prerequisite “other offenses” needed for a conviction under this statute, specifically stating that the alleged related crime of stalking does not qualify as a “crime of violence.”
The high-profile assassination and its unfolding aftermath have deeply resonated with the American public, sparking a wave of public anger and online criticism directed at U.S. health insurers, while simultaneously raising serious security concerns among corporate leaders.
Following the tragic event, investigators discovered a chilling detail: the words “delay,” “deny,” and “depose” had been scrawled in permanent marker on ammunition found at the scene. This phrase eerily echoes common criticisms leveled against the insurance industry.