Luigi Mangione Court Hearing Draws Supporters and Intensifies Healthcare Debate

The accused killer of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson appeared in court as protests and public discourse over the U.S. healthcare system continue to grow.

Luigi Mangione, accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, appeared in a New York court for a pretrial hearing, drawing large crowds of supporters and protesters.
Supporters, many critical of the U.S. healthcare system, gathered outside the courthouse chanting slogans and holding signs, with some expressing sympathy for Mangione's alleged motives while stopping short of endorsing violence.
Mangione faces charges of first- and second-degree murder, terrorism, and weapons violations in New York, alongside federal charges that could carry the death penalty and additional charges in Pennsylvania.
Defense attorney Karen Friedman Agnifilo raised concerns about Mangione's ability to receive a fair trial, citing media coverage, a documentary featuring city officials, and delays in evidence sharing by prosecutors.
The case has sparked widespread public attention, with Mangione’s defense fund raising over $500,000 and his supporters leveraging the trial to highlight grievances with the for-profit healthcare industry.