Luigi Mangione pleaded not guilty on Friday to federal charges connected to the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City last year. His plea was entered before U.S. District Judge Margaret Garnett. Meanwhile, outside the courthouse, members of the growing Free Luigi movement gathered to protest and show their support.

The 26-year-old Mangione was indicted last week by a federal grand jury on four counts, including stalking and murder through the use of a firearm. The murder charge carries a potential death sentence. 

The Rise of the “Free Luigi” Movement

The killing has sparked a national conversation around the U.S. health care system, with many people sharing personal stories of denied insurance claims online.

Within the Free Luigi movement, thousands have hailed Mangione as a hero, blaming the victim, Thompson, for his own death. Many point to systemic issues in health insurance as the real villain in this case.

Dozens of supporters wearing "Free Luigi" shirts and carrying signs protested outside a Manhattan courthouse in February. Mangione’s alleged manifesto, discovered by police, expresses hostility toward the insurance industry and has resonated with many.

Meanwhile, online forums and social media sites are filled with discussions framing Mangione's actions as a rebellion against corporate greed.

Some of Mangione’s writings, described as “manifesto” ramblings, have deeply influenced a segment of the internet that sees his case as symbolic rather than criminal.

DOJ Asks for Death Penalty 

On Thursday, the Department of Justice (DOJ) filed formal notice that it will seek the death penalty against Mangione, following directives from Attorney General Pam Bondi.

"Mangione’s murder of Brian Thompson — an innocent man and father of two young children — was a premeditated, cold-blooded assassination that shocked America," Bondi said earlier this month. "After careful consideration, I have directed federal prosecutors to seek the death penalty in this case as we carry out President Trump’s agenda to stop violent crime and Make America Safe Again."

Mangione is also facing 11 state charges in New York, including murder and terrorism, for which he pleaded not guilty. Additionally, he faces charges in Pennsylvania related to his arrest after a nationwide manhunt.

Details of the Murder

According to authorities, Mangione fatally shot Thompson on Dec. 4, 2024, outside the New York Hilton, where UnitedHealth Group was hosting its annual investor conference.

The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office outlined the events of the murder.

Mangione traveled to New York City by bus on Nov. 24 and checked into a hostel under the alias "Mark Rosario" with fake New Jersey identification.

On the morning of Dec. 4, Mangione left the hostel early, carrying a 9mm 3D-printed ghost gun with a suppressor.

As Thompson approached the hotel, he was shot once in the back and once in the leg. Mangione then fled the scene on a bicycle, sparking a five-day manhunt across multiple states.

Key Evidence 

Investigators collected a significant amount of evidence linking Mangione to the crime:

• Video Surveillance: Footage captured the shooting, and Mangione was later seen removing his mask on hostel cameras. 
• Recovered Items: Upon arrest at a McDonald's in Altoona, Pennsylvania, Mangione was found with: 
  • The same fake New Jersey ID 
  • The 3D-printed ghost gun 
  • A handwritten manifesto 
• Fingerprint Evidence: Mangione’s fingerprints matched those on: 
  • A water bottle and KIND bar wrapper found near the crime scene 
  • A cellphone found discarded near the hotel 
• Ballistics Evidence: Shell casings recovered at the scene had words like "deny," "defend," and "depose" engraved — references tied to the insurance industry's practices, echoing the 2010 book Delay, Deny, Defend critical of insurance claim denials. 

For more details on the case, visit Yahoo News and Yahoo News coverage of the shooting.

What’s Next?

Mangione remains held without bond at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, awaiting trial alongside other high-profile inmates like Sean "Diddy" Combs. His next court appearance in the New York state case is scheduled for June 26.