A suspect in the recent killing of healthcare CEO Brian Thompson has been charged. However, his lawyer insists that he is not the perpetrator. The lawyer also disclosed the content of emails he has received concerning his client.

Luigi Mangione refused to be extradited after being charged with the murder of healthcare CEO Brian Thompson, who was shot before a recent conference in Manhattan. During a tense scuffle with law enforcement outside the courtroom, he turned to journalists and uttered a few words.

Mangione was arrested on December 9, 2024, after a McDonald’s employee in Pennsylvania reported a customer acting suspiciously. The individual had a gun, a mask, and writings that authorities believe connected him to the ambush.

According to reports, a customer named Larry, who was present at the time, revealed that he and his friend noticed the man sitting in a corner with his hood up.

Larry’s friend remarked that the man resembled the shooter from New York, pointing out that his backpack looked familiar. Larry initially assumed the man was just another employee on break due to his hooded appearance.

Mangione’s arrest led to a tense courtroom appearance in Blair County. Shackled at his hands and feet, he walked in wearing an orange prison jumpsuit, closely guarded by about six uniformed officers.

After taking his seat, Mangione unfolded a piece of paper and waited silently for 15 minutes until his lawyer arrived to speak with him. The 26-year-old spoke only twice. When sworn in, he said, “I do,” and when the judge asked if he understood his right to contest the arrest, he replied, “Yes, sir.”

After the brief courtroom exchange, Mangione’s attorney, Tom Dickey, objected to the arrest warrant, arguing it did not include the term “criminal homicide.” District Attorney Peter Weeks responded, “It does,” leading Judge Dave Consiglio to overrule the objection.

Dickey then challenged Mangione’s extradition and requested bail, citing the absence of a life sentence without parole for the charge. He highlighted Mangione’s clean record and suggested electronic monitoring as an alternative.

Judge Consiglio denied bail and ordered Mangione to remain at SCI Huntingdon. The defense now has 14 days to file a petition for habeas corpus, Weeks stated after Mangione’s court appearance.

“They have 14 days to file a petition for habeas corpus, and that would simply be a document challenging the commonwealth’s ability to prove that the defendant is the person that the state of New York has issued the arrest warrant for,” he explained. Any court hearing related to the petition will be scheduled after the 14-day deadline.

Following the bail denial, Mangione remained mostly silent during the hearing, staring straight ahead. At one point, Dickey instructed him to remain quiet.

Dickey noted that Mangione “shut his mouth” after being told to stay silent, “Which is good, that’s what he needs to do.” His comment came after he believed he heard Mangione’s voice during the proceedings.

Dickey’s effort to maintain Mangione’s composure didn’t end in the courtroom. When asked if he knew what Mangione had shouted as he arrived at court, Dickey responded, “I heard some different versions of that, so I need to see what that statement was. Hopefully there won’t be any more of that.”

Dickey’s hope for restraint followed an earlier outburst from Mangione. While being escorted to court, Mangione struggled with police officers and reportedly shouted at reporters.

“It’s completely out of touch and an insult to the intelligence of the American people and their lived experience,” he declared.

Following the court proceedings, additional evidence surfaced linking Mangione to the crime. A law enforcement source disclosed that investigators are reviewing a three-page handwritten “claim of responsibility,” which they described as Mangione’s manifesto. They are also analyzing entries in a spiral notebook he wrote.

The notebook outlines tasks needed to carry out the killing and includes notes defending his actions. In one entry, Mangione reportedly referenced the Unabomber, concluding that a bomb “could kill innocents,” while shooting would be more precise.

He noted that there was no better opportunity than “to kill the CEO at his own bean-counting conference.” Police have also reported that Mangione allegedly arrived in New York on November 24, 2024, and took a cab to the New York Hilton, where he began planning the assassination.

Meanwhile, Dickey remains skeptical about the case against his client. “I haven’t seen any evidence that they have the right guy,” he stated, adding that New York officials “need to convince me.”

Dickey also revealed that his staff informed him about emails offering to help fund Mangione’s legal expenses. “I have received some emails. I have not seen them personally, but my understanding from my staff is people are doing that,” he divulged.

However, Dickey indicated that he “probably wouldn’t” accept the offers, adding, “Obviously my client appreciates the support that he has, but I don’t know, … it just doesn’t sit right with me.”

These offers come as Mangione has garnered sympathy on social media, where some users have even called him a “hero,” reflecting widespread frustration with the country’s healthcare system. When asked about his role in the case, Dickey declined to comment on who retained him to represent Mangione.

As the case unfolds, questions about Luigi Mangione’s guilt, motivations, and the public’s reaction continue to swirl. With his legal team challenging the evidence and extradition, and with a growing wave of social media commentary reflecting frustration over the healthcare system, the trial promises to be closely watched.

Whether Mangione’s claims of responsibility or Dickey’s doubts prevail, the outcome will have broader implications, touching on justice, public sentiment, and the state of American healthcare.