Attorneys for Luigi Mangione challenge statement related to accused CEO shooter’s mother.
Attorneys representing Luigi Mangione, an individual charged with the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, are raising significant doubts regarding the authenticity of an incriminating statement allegedly made by Mangione’s mother. New court filings reveal that defense attorney Karen Friedman Agnifilo is contesting the validity of this statement and suggests it may have been fabricated by police officials. The statement in question purportedly asserts that Kathleen Mangione believed her son “might be something that she could see him doing”—a claim made by NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny during a recent press conference.
The controversy erupted following a filing at the Manhattan Supreme Court, wherein Agnifilio indicated that she has yet to receive any corroborative documents from the Manhattan District Attorney’s office. Following the supposed statement made by Mrs. Mangione during a police interview in San Francisco on December 7, 2024, Kenny asserted that her insight on her son’s potential actions was the basis for the urgency of the police response. Mangione was arrested just two days later.
Agnifilio emphasized in her filings that the discovery materials received thus far do not substantiate this claim and, in fact, suggest the opposite—that Mrs. Mangione did not make such a statement at all. She highlighted the seriousness of the situation, arguing that if the statement is indeed false, it would reflect poorly on the District Attorney’s Office and the NYPD for not correcting it in light of its potential influence on the case.
The situation escalated after the fatal shooting of Thompson, which occurred outside a Hilton Hotel in Midtown Manhattan on December 4, 2024. Authorities allege Mangione had meticulously planned the attack for several months. Following the incident, Mangione reportedly evaded capture by cycling to Central Park and then taking a taxi to a bus station.
Mangione was ultimately apprehended on December 9, aided by a tip from a McDonald’s employee in Altoona, Pennsylvania. He has been in custody without bail since. Agnifilio has requested that the court compel the District Attorney’s Office to clarify whether Mrs. Mangione made the alleged statement to law enforcement.
Currently, Mangione faces multiple charges, including second-degree murder, while he remains embroiled in a complicated legal battle. His case has drawn significant media attention, particularly surrounding allegations regarding the motives for the crime, which include references to suspected grievances within the healthcare industry. Prosecutors assert that Mangione’s intent can be discerned from markings found on shell casings at the crime scene and writings attributed to him prior to the alleged murder.
The NYPD and the office of District Attorney Alvin Bragg are expected to formally respond to these recent filings in the coming weeks as the case continues to unfold. The complexities surrounding the initial evidentiary claims, along with the subsequent revelations about potential improprieties, are likely to play a crucial role in the unfolding legal proceedings against Mangione. Media News Source.
