Alleged Midtown assassin Luigi Mangione, who stands accused of fatally gunning down UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson last year, will not appear in federal court this week as previously scheduled.
According to an ABC7 report, Mangione’s appearance was unceremoniously pushed back to April 18 without any cause given. Mangione faces a slew of federal charges for the infamous shooting outside of the Midtown shooting on Dec. 4. 2024, that, if convicted, could lead to the death penalty. However, a federal grand jury has yet to indict the suspect — who has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Mangione last appeared in state court on Feb. 21, where attorneys mulled over a litany of evidence — including police body camera footage and surveillance videos, DNA, and more. Hundreds of adoring fans also gathered in and outside the courthouse to support the accused yet handsome killer.
Thompson’s shocking execution outside a hotel on West 52nd Street stunned the world and made headlines. The UnitedHealthcare CEO was on his way to an investors’ meeting when the suspect, wearing a mask, approached and opened fire, striking Thompson in the back.
Thompson died a short time later at a local hospital. Detectives eventually caught up to Mangione in Altoona, PA after an intense, five-day manhunt in which police tracked the suspect’s steps from the time he arrived in NYC in late November to the moment of his arrest on Dec. 9.
Meanwhile, Mangione’s attorney Thomas Dickey is accusing Pennsylvania police of offering the suspected killer a snack with the sole purpose of obtaining a DNA sample. The same lawyer also argues that he was stopped without proper just cause.
Thompson’s execution also ignited debate over the practices of the healthcare insurance industry, with many internet and social media users offering little sympathy for the slain suspect while sharing anecdotes regarding their experiences of denied coverage for themselves and loved ones.
“My father died because the health care system is so f’d up. We need to put people before their profits,” Bronx resident Bridget Clark said at Mangione’s Feb. 21 court appearance.
