Federal judge orders hearing on Altoona backpack search in Luigi Mangione case after initial decision reversal.

A federal judge has ordered a reconsideration of a crucial hearing regarding the legality of a property search conducted during the December 2024 arrest of Luigi Mangione, who faces serious charges in connection with the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. The hearing is intended to delve into the procedures followed by law enforcement during the arrest, which took place five days after Thompson’s death. The directive came from Judge Margaret Garnett in Manhattan, who emphasized the significance of the allegations against Mangione, stating that input from a police officer from the Altoona, Pennsylvania, department was necessary to ascertain the proper protocols.

The arrest unfolded in December 2024 while Mangione was having breakfast at a McDonald’s located more than 200 miles from the crime scene. He was apprehended under suspicion of being involved in Thompson’s murder — a high-profile case that has garnered significant media attention. During the arrest, law enforcement officials reportedly recovered a firearm believed to be the murder weapon along with personal writings displaying animosity toward the health insurance sector.

Mangione’s defense team contends that the police violated his constitutional rights by unlawfully searching through his personal belongings without a proper warrant. The argument centers around the claim that although police had the authority to safeguard his possessions, they exceeded their jurisdiction by searching for evidence unrelated to the offense he was being detained for.

Previously, Judge Garnett appeared less inclined to hold an evidentiary hearing but reversed her position after further consideration of the case’s implications. The legal debates surrounding the search protocols were also a topic of extensive hearings in Mangione’s concurrent state case, overseen by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office. A ruling in that matter is expected in May, following detailed testimonies and video footage from the arrest.

Mangione, now 27, has been held in the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn without bail for over a year. He faces multiple charges, including a capital offense for murder committed with a firearm. While he has pleaded not guilty to these federal charges, he also contests related charges in the state case, which could result in a life sentence if convicted. The judge indicated that the forthcoming federal hearing is likely to be brief, requiring testimony only from an officer with adequate knowledge of established search protocols. Furthermore, she has mandated that the Justice Department provide documentation supporting the search warrant issued shortly after Mangione’s arrest.

As the legal proceedings continue to unfold, the case remains a focal point in discussions about policing protocols and the rights of defendants, particularly in high-profile criminal matters.