Luigi Mangione told a prison guard he had a 3D-printed gun in his backpack after his arrest for allegedly gunning down a UnitedHealthcare executive, according to testimony at a New York City court hearing to determine whether prosecutors can use his statements and other evidence at trial.
A prison guard testified that Mangione volunteered the information about the 3D-printed pistol during intake, saying he had kept it in his backpack at the time of his arrest. Police say the backpack also contained a silencer and journal writings that allegedly link him to the killing.
A defence lawyer questioned the guard’s account, pressing him on whether he might have initiated questioning without advising Mangione of his rights.
“You weren’t asking him any questions, you weren’t speaking to him at all… And out of nowhere he says to you, ‘I had a 3D-printed pistol’?” defence lawyer Marc Agnifilo asked.
The guard maintained that he did not question Mangione and told prosecutors he had no stake in the case’s outcome.
Mangione, 27, was arrested in December 2024 and charged with fatally shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on a Midtown Manhattan sidewalk.
He has pleaded not guilty to murder and other charges and is expected to face trial next year.
The killing drew condemnation from public officials, even as Mangione became a folk hero to critics of high U.S. healthcare costs.
His statements to law enforcement and the contents of his backpack could become key evidence, though his lawyers argue they should be suppressed because he was illegally searched and not informed of his rights.
Prosecutors deny any misconduct.
Prosecutors from Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office have opposed the request to suppress evidence.
Surveillance footage shown in court on Monday depicted police speaking with Mangione inside a McDonald’s restaurant for more than 30 minutes before arresting him — a detail the defence says supports its claim that Mangione was questioned unlawfully. The videos, which have no audio, were shown publicly for the first time.
Prosecutors also questioned a 911 coordinator about a call made by a McDonald’s employee in Altoona, Pennsylvania, who reported Mangione after customers recognised him from news coverage.
“I have a customer here that some other customers are suspicious of who looks like the CEO shooter, and they’re really upset and they’re coming to me,” the employee said in a recording played in court.
Mangione faces life in prison if convicted of second-degree murder, as well as seven counts of criminal possession of a weapon and one count of possessing false identification.
Justice Carro dismissed two terrorism counts in September, ruling that prosecutors had not shown Mangione intended to intimidate health-insurance workers or influence government policy.
Several of Mangione’s supporters stood outside the courthouse before the hearing, including a person dressed as the villain from Super Mario Bros. holding a sign reading, “When patients die, profits rise,” and a woman wearing a “Free Luigi” sash.
No trial dates have been set in either the state or federal cases. Mangione remains in federal custody in Brooklyn.
U.S. President Donald Trump said he sees progress between Israel and Lebanon after talks with Netanyahu, while Hezbollah has rejected a new ceasefire ...
Azerbaijan is once again at the centre of global climate diplomacy, hosting World Environment Day 2026 and bringing together international leaders, po...
Azerbaijan has strongly rejected allegations published by CNN claiming that its territory was used for Israeli military and intelligence operations ag...
The Eighth Global Environment Facility (GEF) Assembly has concluded in Samarkand, bringing together representatives from 186 countries to set environm...
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan hosted Nigerien President Abdourahamane Tchiani in Ankara on Thursday, underscoring Türkiye’s growing engag...
Germany has failed to secure a rotating seat on the United Nations Security Council, ending decades of successful bids and prompting fresh debate about the country's diplomatic standing on the global stage.
Armenians will vote on Sunday in a parliamentary election that will determine whether Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan secures a new mandate to pursue peace with Azerbaijan or cedes ground to pro-Russian rivals.
The U.S. House of Representatives has approved legislation that would provide new aid to Ukraine and impose additional sanctions on Russia, marking the latest instance of Republican lawmakers breaking ranks with President Donald Trump and party leaders.
As Armenia heads toward parliamentary elections on 7 June, the country's relationship with Azerbaijan is emerging as one of the defining issues of the campaign, with analysts and international observers highlighting the role of regional politics in shaping voters’ mindsets.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) said in a statement that its Aerospace Force did not strike the Kuwait Airport passenger terminal on Wednesday, and that the destruction was instead caused by a failed U.S. Patriot missile.
Five Azerbaijani citizens have been killed and three others injured following drone attacks on two cargo vessels in the Sea of Azov, Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry said on Friday.
Israel and Lebanon have agreed to implement a ceasefire after U.S.-backed talks in Washington. The deal requires Hezbollah to halt attacks and withdraw from southern Lebanon, while both sides will resume direct talks later this month aimed at reaching a broader agreement.
As Armenia heads toward parliamentary elections on 7 June, the country's relationship with Azerbaijan is emerging as one of the defining issues of the campaign, with analysts and international observers highlighting the role of regional politics in shaping voters’ mindsets.
Armenia will hold parliamentary elections on 7 June 2026, a vote that will shape the country’s political direction for the next five years. Understanding how the electoral system converts votes into parliamentary power is key to following the outcome and its wider regional implications.
People across Gaza are facing a worsening humanitarian crisis, with millions struggling to access food, clean water, shelter and medical care as the conflict continues.
The next time a goal goes in during a Champions League final, fans around the world could watch it from every angle at once — frozen, rotated and replayed in ways that were impossible only a few years ago.
An ageing, poorly insured shadow armada now accounts for around one-sixth of the world's tanker fleet. Hidden by design and fraught with risk, it operates beyond conventional oversight. A maritime law expert explains how it works, who profits, and why much of the world looks the other way.
Azerbaijan has strongly rejected allegations published by CNN claiming that its territory was used for Israeli military and intelligence operations against Iran, describing the report as entirely baseless and demanding a retraction.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan hosted Nigerien President Abdourahamane Tchiani in Ankara on Thursday, underscoring Türkiye’s growing engagement with Africa’s Sahel region as geopolitical alliances continue to shift.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment