Luigi Mangione, 26, entered Manhattan Supreme Court on Monday morning, grinning as he faced charges of first-degree murder in the passing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
Appearing at 9:26 a.m., Mangione was escorted in with his feet shackled, dressed in a maroon sweater layered over a white collared shirt, tan khakis, and bright orange prison shoes. The ensemble was an unexpectedly close match to his attorney Karen Friedman Agnifilo’s outfit, creating a peculiar visual in the courtroom.
The proceedings drew a surprising crowd, with more than two dozen women in attendance, their eyes fixed on the accused, whom many have labeled a controversial heartthrob. In contrast, only six men observed the scene from the gallery.
Mangione’s not-guilty plea was met with a tense silence, setting the stage for what promises to be a high-profile case.
“How do you plead to this indictment, sir? Guilty or not guilty,” asked a court clerk. “Not guilty,” Mangione replied.
During Monday’s court appearance, Luigi Mangione’s attorney, Karen Friedman Agnifilo, argued that public comments from officials like New York City Mayor Eric Adams were jeopardizing her client’s right to a fair trial.
“I’m very concerned about my client’s right to a fair trial,” Agnifilo stated, emphasizing her disapproval of Mangione’s treatment upon his arrival in New York City. Describing the situation, she remarked, “He’s a young man and he’s being treated like a human ping pong ball” caught between two feuding jurisdictions.
As Mangione departed the court alongside an escort of police, he appeared to raise his eyebrows and shake his head in response to a question from the media.
