A New York judge ruled Monday that a gun and notebook found in Luigi Mangione's backpack may be used at trial, but suppressed other items seized during his arrest.
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A New York judge on Monday ruled that prosecutors may present a gun and notebook as evidence in Luigi Mangione's upcoming state murder trial, while suppressing other items recovered during his arrest in Pennsylvania.
Judge Gregory Carro of New York State Supreme Court determined that evidence found during an initial search of Mangione's backpack at a McDonald's restaurant in Altoona, Pennsylvania must be excluded from trial. Those items include a loaded magazine for a handgun, cellphone, passport, wallet and computer chip.
However, Carro ruled that items recovered during a subsequent search at the Altoona police station—including a 3D-printed gun and a notebook containing writings expressing frustration with the healthcare industry—are admissible at trial.
Mangione's defense attorneys had argued that local police conducted an illegal warrantless search of his backpack when he was arrested at the McDonald's in December 2024, days after UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was fatally shot on a Manhattan sidewalk. The defense contended that law enforcement should have obtained a search warrant before examining the backpack's contents.
Prosecutors argued the search was lawful and consistent with standard police procedure, noting that the backpack was searched after Mangione provided a false identity to officers.
In his ruling, Carro called the search at the McDonald's an "improper and warrantless search," finding that the backpack was not within Mangione's immediate reach at the time of arrest. He determined that evidence recovered during that initial search must be suppressed accordingly.
Carro also ruled that certain statements Mangione made to officers who initially encountered him at the Pennsylvania restaurant must be excluded from trial, though some of his questioning by law enforcement will be permitted.
Mangione, 28, is accused of killing Thompson on December 4, 2024. He was arrested five days later at the McDonald's location. He faces charges including second-degree murder and other offenses in the state case.
Mangione's New York state murder trial is scheduled to begin September 8, with prosecutors estimating the trial will last four to six weeks. In a separate federal case involving stalking charges, jury selection is set to begin October 13, with opening statements and testimony expected to start November 4.
A New York judge will decide Monday whether evidence seized from Mangione's backpack can be used in his state trial for the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
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