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.
Qatar opened the Doha Forum with a stark warning that Gaza ceasefire talks have entered a critical moment, as officials said the current pause in figh...
Assistant to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Hikmat Hajiyev, has highlighted Baku’s commitment to advancing long-term peace in the Sout...
America's new National Security Strategy marks a sharp turn away from global policeman ambitions, revives a modern Monroe Doctrine in the Western Hemi...
The European Union’s newly adopted Partnership Agenda with Armenia has prompted strong concern in Baku, where officials say several passages depart ...
China’s national security office in Hong Kong on Saturday cautioned foreign media against spreading “false information” or attempting to “smea...
The C5+1 meeting between Central Asian leaders and U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington in early November signals the ascent of Central Asia to the status of a pivot in the bipolar geopolitical order.
America's new National Security Strategy marks a sharp turn away from global policeman ambitions, revives a modern Monroe Doctrine in the Western Hemisphere and recasts China, Europe and long standing alliances through a bluntly transactional lens.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan says that Hamas can only disarm once a credible Palestinian civil administration and a properly vetted, trained police force are in place.
The U.S. State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale of M1085A2 and M1078A2 Medium Tactical Vehicles (MTVs) and related equipment to Lebanon, with the total cost estimated at $90.5 million, the Pentagon’s Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said Friday.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup draw at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., has finalized the group stage for the tournament co-hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, setting the schedule and matchups for next summer’s expanded 48-team event.
Israel was cleared on Thursday to participate in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, a decision made by the organisers, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which sparked a major controversy.
Pakistan and Afghanistan exchanged heavy fire along their shared border late on Friday, a reminder of how sensitive the frontier remains despite ongoing diplomatic efforts.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry has strongly condemned the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) for its support of the claims by United Arab Emirates on three Iranian islands.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping accompanied French President Emmanuel Macron to Chengdu on Friday, a rare gesture seemingly reserved for the head of Europe's second-largest economy that highlights Beijing's focus on Paris in its ties with the European Union.
Qatar opened the Doha Forum with a stark warning that Gaza ceasefire talks have entered a critical moment, as officials said the current pause in fighting cannot yet be described as a lasting halt to hostilities.
Assistant to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Hikmat Hajiyev, has highlighted Baku’s commitment to advancing long-term peace in the South Caucasus after taking part in a dedicated panel at the 23rd Doha Forum.
America's new National Security Strategy marks a sharp turn away from global policeman ambitions, revives a modern Monroe Doctrine in the Western Hemisphere and recasts China, Europe and long standing alliances through a bluntly transactional lens.
The European Union’s newly adopted Partnership Agenda with Armenia has prompted strong concern in Baku, where officials say several passages depart from factual accuracy and introduce political messages that could damage an already fragile negotiation environment.
China’s national security office in Hong Kong on Saturday cautioned foreign media against spreading “false information” or attempting to “smear” government efforts in responding to the city’s deadliest fire in nearly 80 years.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment