Ivy League-educated Luigi Mangione, 26, from a prominent Maryland real estate family, is charged with murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in a December 4, 2024, shooting outside a Midtown Manhattan hotel. Mangione was apprehended in Altoona, Pennsylvania, following a five-day manhunt, allegedly with a ghost gun, fake ID, and a manifesto decrying the health insurance business. He faces federal and state charges, including murder and terrorism-related offenses, and has pleaded not guilty. He could receive the death penalty if convicted.
Following his arrest, Mangione has been sent nearly $300,000 by supporters in donations to fund his legal defense. The funds were raised in a GiveSendGo campaign established by the December 4 Legal Committee, a volunteer group of 15 people across the United States. The campaign has been donated to by over 10,000 donors, with many referencing frustration with the United States healthcare system and viewing Mangione’s actions as a protest against corporate greed. Mangione’s attorney, Karen Friedman Agnifilo, confirmed that the money had been accepted, stating that Mangione “very much appreciates the outpouring of support” and would use the donations to defend himself against the charges.
The case has sparked national outrage, with much of the anger from Americans being focused on the health insurance industry and sympathy being focused on Mangione. The December 4 Legal Committee has condemned media portrayals of Mangione and the severity of the charges, calling the terrorism charges “fundamentally unacceptable.” The committee has vowed to continue fundraising and is calling on supporters to not only donate but to also send messages of support to Mangione during his time in jail.
Nonetheless, Mangione’s defense has not been without backlash. Former Washington, D.C., homicide detective and criminal trial attorney Ted Williams was horrified at the fundraising, stating, “It’s shocking that anybody would raise money for a person who allegedly killed someone in broad daylight in cold blood. There are so many other causes in this country that a person could raise money for.”
Mangione remains incarcerated at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn awaiting trial. The December 4 Legal Committee continues to raise funds for his defense and says they are committed to assisting him in gaining adequate legal representation.
