Judge Admits Key Evidence in UnitedHealthcare CEO Murder Trial

A New York judge has ruled that a gun and notebook linked to Luigi Mangione can be used as evidence in his upcoming murder trial for the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Judge Gregory Carro's decision favors prosecutors, as the items—found in a later police station inventory—include a 3D-printed pistol and a notebook detailing plans to "wack" a health insurance executive, allegedly indicating motive and method. Earlier searches of Mangione’s backpack at the time of his arrest were deemed unlawful due to lack of a warrant and were partially excluded from evidence, including a gun magazine, passport, and some of Mangione’s pre-arrest statements.

Mangione was arrested in Altoona, Pennsylvania, five days after Thompson was fatally shot outside a Manhattan hotel in December 2024. Though controversial searches at the time of arrest sparked legal debate, the judge allowed post-arrest inventory procedures to hold. Mangione has pleaded not guilty and faces life in prison if convicted. His state trial begins on September 8, with a separate federal trial on stalking charges scheduled for October. Surveillance footage and diary entries further connect Mangione to the crime, which appears ideologically motivated.