New details have emerged in the high-profile murder case of a healthcare CEO in New York City, revealing chilling surveillance footage from the day before the killing. Luigi Mangione, 27, is accused of fatally shooting HealthcareUnited CEO Brian Thompson, 50, as Thompson left a Manhattan hotel on the morning of December 4, 2024.
Surveillance Video Places Suspect at Scene
During a pretrial hearing to determine admissible evidence, lead investigator NYPD Lt. David Leonardi provided crucial testimony. A 23-year veteran, Leonardi stated that surveillance video from the Hilton Hotel, where Thompson was staying, captured a significant moment. One day before the shooting, Mangione was recorded on video "walking past Brian Thompson in the Hilton lobby." The video itself was not displayed in court.
This aligns with a prior statement from the Justice Department, which indicated Mangione arrived in New York a week before the killing and conducted "reconnaissance" around the victim's hotel and a conference venue where Thompson was scheduled to speak.
The Investigation and Evidence Collection
Lt. Leonardi described arriving at the crime scene to find "a puddle of blood that had accumulated next to the wall" where Thompson was shot. As Mangione fled to Pennsylvania, investigators scoured area surveillance. On the day of the shooting, police also discovered a gray backpack in Central Park allegedly belonging to the suspect, containing candy bars, candy, and Monopoly money.
Mangione was apprehended five days later at a McDonald's in Altoona, Pennsylvania. A search of his backpack at that time revealed a trove of items, including:
- A gun with a loaded magazine
- A red notebook
- A homemade silencer
- Thousands of dollars in domestic and foreign cash
Legal Battles Over Evidence Admissibility
The ongoing pretrial hearing is centering on what evidence will be permitted at Mangione's upcoming state murder trial. His defense team is seeking to suppress the items found in his backpack upon arrest. They argue their client was subjected to an illegal search and was not properly read his Miranda rights.
Judge Gregory Carro will rule on the evidence's admissibility following the conclusion of the hearing, which is expected to continue this week. Mangione also faces a separate federal murder trial. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
