A New York state judge delivered a significant ruling in the case of alleged CEO killer Luigi Mangione during a Monday hearing, determining that crucial pieces of evidence cannot be used at trial because of the manner in which local police in Altoona, Pennsylvania, handled his arrest.
Judge Gregory Carro specifically ruled that items which will be permitted at trial include a handgun discovered in Mangione's backpack and a red notebook containing alleged references to the brazen daylight murder of Brian Thompson, the head of UnitedHealthcare. Thompson was fatally shot in midtown Manhattan in December 2024, just prior to an annual investors' conference, triggering a massive nationwide manhunt for his killer.
Mangione has entered a plea of not guilty to all charges and faces a potential life sentence if convicted. He appeared in court dressed in a navy suit and pale blue shirt without a tie, and directed his gaze toward his attorneys as they conferred with Judge Carro for several minutes.
The judge briefly explained his reasoning in open court, stating that the Altoona officers conducted an “improper, warrantless search” of Mangione's backpack at the McDonald's restaurant where he was eating breakfast on the day of his arrest. A customer at the McDonald's had allegedly recognized him from images of a suspect released by law enforcement and urged staff to contact local police, leading to the encounter.
