Feb. 21 (UPI) — Luigi Mangione is set to appear in court in New York on Friday where he faces state charges of murder and terrorism in the December killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
The hearing is scheduled for 2:15 p.m. EST in Manhattan’s State Supreme Court where prosecutors and the defense are expected to provide updates on the case and Judge Gregory Carro could set a trial date.
Thompson was killed by a masked gunman on a Manhattan sidewalk near a Hilton Hotel at West 54th Street and Sixth Avenue Dec. 4 and Mangione, 26, faces 11 counts for his suspected role carrying out the shooting.
Mangione has pleaded not guilty to the charges which include one count of murder in the first degree in the furtherance of terrorism and a count of murder in the second degree including one as an act of terrorism. Both of those charges carry a maximum penalty of life in prison without parole.
He was also charged with murder in the second degree, which carries a maximum penalty of 25 years to life in prison, as well as additional charges related to criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of a forged instrument.
Mangione, who remains held at a Brooklyn federal detention center shared a public statement Friday on a website created by his legal team to “to share factual information regarding the unprecedented, multiple prosecutions against him.”
“I am overwhelmed by — and grateful for — everyone who has written me to share their stories and express their support,” the statment said. “Powerfully, this support has transcended political, racial, and even class divisions, as mail has flooded MDC from across the country, and around the globe. While it is impossible for me to reply to most letters, please know that I read every one that I receive. Thank you again to everyone who took the time to write. I look forward to hearing more in the future.”
He also faces federal murder charges, which could include the death penalty, but has not made a plea in that case. He hasn’t yet been indicted by a federal grand jury.
Mangione is being and is expected to appear in court to face the federal charges in mid-March.
On top of the state and federal charges Mangione is charged with crimes in Pennsylvania where he was arrested for the Manhattan murder. They include forgery and possession of an unlicensed gun.
When Mangione was arrested police said he had a two-page handwritten document on him that railed against the healthcare industry and reportedly included the words ‘the parasites had it coming.”
