State hearings conclude in case against Luigi Mangione for the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO.

Marathon proceedings in the state homicide case against Luigi Mangione concluded Thursday as prosecutors from Manhattan and the defense team representing the alleged assailant of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson decided to rest their respective cases. The outcome of the hearings will not be available for a while, as New York Supreme Court Justice Gregory Carro requested that both sides submit final written arguments. A ruling on Mangione’s motions to suppress critical evidence is expected by May 18.

The extensive hearings featured testimony from 17 witnesses and revolved around the evidence gathered and the statements made by Mangione to Pennsylvania law enforcement following his arrest five days after Thompson’s death. Law enforcement apprehended Mangione at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, more than 200 miles from the site of the shooting outside a Hilton hotel in Midtown Manhattan on December 4, 2024.

Legal representatives for Mangione have argued that the Altoona police officers conducted an unlawful warrantless search of his belongings during a high-profile manhunt, leading to the recovery of potentially incriminating items, including a 9mm pistol, a silencer, and notes suggesting he had intentions to kill the executive. Their defense claims that these items should be excluded from the prosecution’s case.

Testimony revealed that police officers discovered a “to-do” list in Mangione’s belongings, which reportedly included the mundane task of “plucking eyebrows,” alongside writings outlining potential escape routes. The Manhattan District Attorney’s office contends that the search was permissible and necessary to confirm that Mangione did not pose a danger to officers during his arrest.

The police approached Mangione after receiving a 911 call from McDonald’s management, indicating that patrons recognized him as the suspect in the high-profile case. Officers testified that they were confident he was the individual sought in connection with the shooting and conducted a strategic delay before taking him into custody. Evidence presented in court indicated that Mangione initially provided a false identity using a New Jersey driver’s license and later confessed his true name after officers informed him of the legal consequences.

Mangione, facing a second-degree murder charge, has pleaded not guilty, with serious repercussions including a potential life sentence. The ongoing legal battle has revealed that he allegedly stalked Thompson in the weeks leading up to the shooting, as indicated by surveillance footage capturing the two near the Hilton hotel just hours before the incident.

In the early morning hours of December 4, footage showed a masked figure fatally shooting Thompson as he arrived at the hotel to prepare for an investor conference. The CEO, who had been with UnitedHealthcare since 2001, was known for his transformative leadership in the health insurance sector.

The proceedings have established that Mangione reportedly fled the crime scene on a bicycle before taking a cab to a nearby bus station, leaving behind crucial evidence such as a bus ticket indicating travel plans away from New York—a detail that underscores the prosecution’s narrative of premeditation.

As the case continues to unfold, Mangione also faces federal charges that could result in a capital punishment trial, highlighting the high stakes involved as he maintains his innocence. His defense team, led by experienced attorneys, is preparing for a complex legal journey ahead. The looming verdict will not only determine Mangione’s fate but also shed light on the broader implications surrounding issues of due process and legal representation in high-profile cases.