Luigi Mangione’s Pennsylvania Defense Attorney filed a motion for relief that sought to dismiss charges in the state in which he was arrested. The 26-year-old Ivy League graduate is accused and charged with the murder of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson. On December 4, 2024, Thompson was gunned down outside a Midtown Manhattan hotel and killed execution style. Authorities allege Mangione is responsible for the CEO’s murder and fled the scene, taking a bus to Altoona, Pennsylvania, where he was picked up at a McDonald’s less than a week later.
Motion for Relief
Luigi Mangione’s Defense Attorney, Thomas Dickey, argued a motion this week that the Altoona Police Department violated the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendment when they arrested Mangione. He claimed the police “lacked reasonable suspicion for any stop, arrest, seizure, and/or investigatory detention of the Defendant.”
The motion describes the situation and Luigi Mangione’s position at the time of his arrest. He was seated alone in a corner with his back to the wall, facing forward. There were only two ways for him to exit: to the right side of him or over the table. The police strolled in after an anonymous call from a McDonald’s worker stating she might recognize the CEO’s murder suspect. Other than that tip, there was no further evidence for them to assume he is the one being sought after.
Minutes Before Luigi Mangione’s Arrest
Two officers stood on either side of Luigi Mangione, blocking his only reasonable path to exit the fast food joint. They told the Defendant he “looked suspicious” and asked him to perform a series of tasks. At no point did they inform him of why they were having him do those things, nor voice that he was allowed to leave. They demanded his ID which he provided willingly since he believed refusing was not an option. In the motion it states, “Any reasonable person, innocent of any crime, would have thought he was being restrained if he had been in the Defendant’s shoes.”
After one of the officers ran his ID in the system, more officers appeared in the McDonald’s, totalling around 10. They seized his backpack with his belongings while surrounding him in the corner. Luigi Mangione was unable to leave freely without pushing through a crowd. Dickey argued that they unlawfully detained him for 20 minutes inside before arresting them.
The Altoona Police had no warrants to search Mangione’s belongings or person. They had no warrants for his arrest. They also did not have any identification from the State of New York to deem Mangione beyond a reasonable doubt that he was their suspect.
Final Thoughts
The murder of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson affected everyone in different ways. Some people feared for their safety, mostly other CEO’s. While other people were empowered by this action. Following the murder, a manhunt for the suspect ensued, and 5 days later they came across Luigi Mangione. He seemed to fit the description of the gunman and to have enough evidence on his person to reasonably suggest he is the murderer. However, there are many holes in this case, including the backpack that was seized when he was detained.
Luigi Mangione has a huge following of supporters. They range from people who believe he is innocent to people who believe he did it, but are proud of his actions. He also has a defense fund set up to pay for his legal fees. It recently surpassed $700,000 after an anonymous donor generously gave $36,500. Some might find his supporters appalling, but they have rallied to bring justice for Mangione and fight America’s broken healthcare system.
