Luigi Mangione pleads not guilty
Luigi Mangione, 26, pleaded not guilty to 11 charges, including murder and terrorism, related to the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
Prosecutors allege Mangione shot Thompson on December 4 as he walked to an investor conference in Manhattan. The Manhattan district attorney formally charged Luigi Mangione last week, citing evidence tying the act to terrorism.
The case has drawn public attention, with a small group of protesters braving sub-zero temperatures outside the courtroom to show support for Mangione. Protesters displayed signs criticizing healthcare companies, with one reading “DENY, DEFEND, DEPOSE”—a phrase reportedly found etched on shell casings at the crime scene.
Some view Mangione as a folk hero, reflecting frustrations with soaring healthcare costs and insurers’ alleged denial tactics. Despite this controversial admiration, Mangione faces severe legal consequences if convicted. The case highlights the intersection of healthcare criticism and violent crime in the public eye.