Luigi Mangione's lawyers ask federal judge to dismiss some criminal charges, including death-eligible count

"Lawyers for Luigi Mangione are seeking to dismiss some of the criminal charges brought against him in a federal indictment following the December 2024 killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, including the only count eligible for the death penalty. In documents filed at a Manhattan federal court on Saturday, defense attorneys for Mangione sought to dismiss a count of murder through the use of a firearm."

"They added that prosecutors should also be prevented from using as evidence Mangione's statements to law enforcement at the McDonald's where he was arrested and his backpack, saying officers did not read Mangione his rights before questioning him and did not obtain a warrant before searching his bag. Mangione's attorneys have previously argued that he should not face the death penalty for Thompson's killing and have asked US District Judge Margaret Garnett to bar the government from seeking the death penalty."

Defense attorneys filed motions in Manhattan federal court seeking dismissal of several federal charges against Luigi Mangione, including the death-eligible count alleging murder through use of a firearm. The filing argues that Counts One and Two, which charge stalking, are not 'crimes of violence' and therefore cannot support Counts Three and Four, requiring dismissal for failure to state an offense. The defense also seeks suppression of Mangione's statements at the McDonald's arrest site and of evidence from his backpack, asserting officers failed to read Miranda rights and did not obtain a warrant. A state judge previously dismissed top terrorism charges.

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