Supporters and protesters of Luigi Mangione gather outside a federal court in Manhattan as the murder suspect went before a judge on charges that he murdered UnitedHealthcare chief executive Brian Thompson late last year in New York, NY on April 25, 2025. © Abaca Press / Charles Guerin/ Sipa USA
(New York, NY) – A Manhattan judge has dropped the top murder charge against Luigi Mangione, the man accused in the shooting death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Judge Gregory Carro argued that the evidence presented to a grand jury did not support the charge of murder as an act or crime of terrorism. This means Mangione faces second-degree murder charges, but is no longer formally accused of murder in the first degree.
Mangione was walked into court sporting a shorter haircut than the last time he was captured on camera. He wore a jail jumpsuit and what appeared to be sneakers or short boots. The alleged murderer was shackled and did not speak in court.
Outside of the courthouse, Mangione’s supporters held up signs and declared his innocence. His case has become a lightning rod for people who are critical of insurance companies and what are perceived as unfair practices — such as denial of coverage or high deductibles. Scott LoBaido, an artist and outspoken conservative who has appeared on 77 WABC programing many times, held up a sign blasting Mangione’s supporters.
He also had a skeleton-like effigy of Mangione — dressed as Luigi from the Mario Brothers video games — seated in an electric chair. Meanwhile, some of the accused killer’s supporters took time to specifically criticize the death penalty.
It was in December 2024 when the 27-year-old Mangione allegedly gunned down Thompson in cold blood outside of the Hilton Hotel in Midtown Manhattan. He then led cops and federal agents on a manhunt that ended at a McDonald’s in Pennsylvania where Mangione was arrested. Since then, he’s come a sort of cause célèbre among leftists — who see him as some sort of communist or Marxist revolutionary. Such praise for violence is sadly hardly a rarity amongst that circle — as evidenced in heartbreaking fashion by the craven and demonic people who have celebrated Charlie Kirk’s assassination.
The judge set hearings for Mangione’s case to start on December 1st, but a trial date has yet to be determined. Mangione has pleaded not guilty to charges in New York and Pennsylvania, along with federal charges.
