An anonymous fundraiser supporting Luigi Mangione, accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, has raised over $90,000, sparking outrage and concern about the implications of public backing for the suspected shooter, the Independent reported.
Supporters of Luigi Mangione, the 26-year-old arrested on suspicion of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, have donated more than $90,000 to a defense fund set up in his name. The crowdfunding campaign, hosted on GiveSendGo, was organized by a group calling itself the “December 4th Legal Committee,” a nod to the day of the alleged shooting.
The group stated, “We are not here to celebrate violence, but we do believe in the constitutional right to fair legal representation.”
The fundraiser has sparked widespread condemnation, with Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg calling the public support for Mangione “abhorrent.”
Speaking to ABC News, Bragg warned against glorifying violence, saying, “Celebrating this conduct is abhorrent to me. It’s deeply disturbing. We will be vigilant and hold people accountable.”
Mangione was recently arrested at a McDonald’s in Pennsylvania, ending a six-day manhunt following the Dec. 4 shooting of Thompson outside the New York Hilton Midtown. Surveillance footage captured a hooded figure with a grey backpack firing at Thompson from several feet away.
When arrested, Mangione was found in possession of a 3D-printed gun, a silencer, multiple false identification cards, and a spiral notebook containing a “to-do list.” Investigators said the gun matched shell casings from the crime scene, which were marked with the words “deny,” “defend,” and “depose.” Authorities also recovered a 262-word manifesto reportedly linked to Mangione.
Mangione, currently held in a Pennsylvania jail without bond, faces extradition to New York, where he has been charged with second-degree murder.
Under New York law, first-degree murder charges are limited to specific circumstances, such as when the victim is a judge, police officer, or first responder or when the crime involves terrorism or murder-for-hire. If convicted of second-degree murder, Mangione faces a sentence of 15 years to life in prison.
In addition to the murder charge, Mangione faces five separate charges in Pennsylvania, including forgery, providing false identification, and carrying a firearm without a license.
Mangione appeared at the Blair County Courthouse on Tuesday for an extradition hearing. As he was escorted in handcuffs, he shouted, “It’s completely out of touch and an insult to the intelligence of the American people and their lived experience.”