Luigi Mangione, the man at the center of a high-profile murder case, stood before a New York state court on Monday morning to plead not guilty. The stakes couldn’t be higher—if convicted, he could spend the rest of his life behind bars. But his defense team has bigger worries right now: ensuring he gets a fair trial.
Mangione, dressed in a maroon sweater, white shirt, khaki pants, and orange shoes, appeared in court with his hands and feet shackled. His attorney, Karen Friedman Agnifilo, argued that the dramatic way Mangione was brought to New York City—a cinematic perp walk straight out of a crime drama—makes it nearly impossible for any potential jury to remain unbiased.
“I’m really concerned about his right to a fair trial,” Friedman Agnifilo told Judge Gregory Carro. “He’s being treated like a human ping-pong ball. These staged perp walks are unconstitutional.”
A Helicopter, Heavily Armed Agents, and the NYC Mayor
Last week, Mangione’s arrival in New York was anything but ordinary. Escorted by a swarm of heavily armed NYPD and FBI agents, he was flown in by helicopter and paraded before cameras in what Friedman Agnifilo described as a “choreographed spectacle.” Even New York City Mayor Eric Adams was there—a presence the defense attorney found particularly troubling.
“Why was the mayor even at the perp walk?” she asked. “He has his own legal troubles to deal with. This felt like a distraction—a way to shift attention away from his issues while using my client as a symbol. But Luigi Mangione is not a symbol. He’s a young man with rights.”
The Charges Against Mangione
Mangione is accused of fatally shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in a shocking attack outside a Midtown Manhattan hotel on December 4. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg called it a “brazen, targeted” act.
In New York, Mangione faces first- and second-degree murder charges, as well as weapons and forgery charges. But that’s not all. He’s also staring down federal murder charges, which could carry the death penalty, and additional charges in Pennsylvania, where he was captured after a five-day manhunt.
From Pennsylvania to Federal Court
While Mangione has pled not guilty to the Pennsylvania charges, he has yet to enter a plea for the federal ones. For now, he’s being held at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center—the same facility where music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs is housed. Fun fact: both Mangione and Diddy share the same legal team, as Karen’s husband, Marc Agnifilo, represents the hip-hop icon.
What’s Next?
Mangione is due back in court on February 21. His first appearance drew a packed audience, including about two dozen young women among the public attendees, alongside reporters and lawyers.
As this case unfolds, the spotlight is sure to grow brighter. If you’re interested in following the twists and turns, be sure to sign up for updates from PEOPLE’s True Crime newsletter.
