Luigi Mangione, a 26-year-old accused of murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, has accepted nearly $300,000 in donations to support his legal defense, according to the fund organizers.
Mangione is alleged to have fatally shot Thompson outside a Manhattan hotel on December 4, 2024. He is facing criminal charges in New York, Pennsylvania, and federal court. While he has pleaded not guilty to the charges in New York, he has yet to enter pleas in the other jurisdictions.
The December 4 Legal Committee, which established a GiveSendGo legal fund, announced Monday that Mangione has agreed to accept the $292,000 raised for his defense.
“We’re thrilled that Luigi is accepting these funds so he can mount the strongest defense possible,” said Sam Beard, a spokesperson for the group. Beard also criticized the American private health insurance industry, arguing that its practices have left many in financial distress, adding that Mangione’s alleged actions have garnered support from millions.
Mangione was apprehended on December 10 at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, after a six-day nationwide manhunt. He faces additional charges in Pennsylvania, including carrying a firearm without a license and forgery.
He was extradited to New York on December 19 and is scheduled to appear in state court on February 21, where he faces 11 charges, including first-degree murder in furtherance of terrorism and multiple weapons offenses.
At the federal level, Mangione has been charged with murder through the use of a firearm, two counts of stalking, and a firearm offense.
If convicted, he could face the death penalty, though it remains unclear if prosecutors will pursue that sentence.
