Judge Allows Gun, Notebook in Luigi Mangione Murder Case at Pre-Trial Hearing

A New York judge ruled Monday that prosecutors may present a gun and written materials found in Luigi Mangione’s backpack at his state murder trial over the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, while barring other evidence recovered during his arrest.

Judge Gregory Carro found that several items discovered when police searched Mangione’s backpack at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, must be excluded because they were obtained through an improper warrantless search. Those items include a magazine, cellphone, passport, wallet and computer chip.

However, Carro ruled that prosecutors may use evidence found later during a search at a police station, including a handgun and a notebook.

Mangione, now 27, is accused of shooting and killing Thompson on a Manhattan street in December 2024. He has pleaded not guilty to state charges including second-degree murder, firearms offenses and stalking. He also faces a separate federal case, in which he has also pleaded not guilty.

Mangione was arrested in Altoona several days after Thompson was killed, following a nationwide manhunt. Police had responded to a report that a man resembling publicly released images of the suspect was sitting inside a local McDonald’s.

According to court filings, officers approached Mangione and began asking him questions about his identity. He was read his Miranda rights at around 9:48 a.m. Before that, police asked questions about whether he had lied about his name and whether he had a fake identification card.

Carro ruled that Mangione’s answers to questions asked before he received his Miranda warning cannot be used at trial. Prosecutors may use statements from later questioning after he was in custody.

At the McDonald’s, an officer searched Mangione’s backpack and found several items, including a loaded gun magazine, a passport and a Faraday bag. Later, at the police station, officers conducted a more complete search of the bag and found a handgun and a red journal.

Mangione’s defense team had sought to suppress evidence from the McDonald’s encounter and arrest, arguing that police searched the bag unlawfully and improperly questioned him. Prosecutors argued that the searches and questioning were lawful.

The ruling gives the defense a partial victory, but leaves prosecutors with two major pieces of evidence: the alleged murder weapon and writings they say are linked to the case.

Mangione appeared in court Monday wearing a navy-blue suit. Several supporters attended the hearing, some wearing shirts calling for his exoneration.

The state trial is expected to begin in September.