The defense attorney representing Luigi Mangione, the suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, said Wednesday he's seen "no evidence" linking his client with the Manhattan shooting.
"We had a brief hearing yesterday, and there is one document, an arrest warrant from the state of New York, which merely referenced statutes," the attorney, Thomas Dickey, told ABC News "Good Morning America" anchor George Stephanopoulos. "That's why we're challenging the extradition at this point, so we can see some evidence and get a little more detailed information about the charges against Luigi."
Mangione is being held without bail in Pennsylvania where he is facing several charges after his arrest at an Altoona McDonald's on Monday. Dickey told a judge at a hearing Tuesday that his client will fight extradition to New York where he faces second-degree murder and weapons charges.
Police, while taking Mangione, 26, found he had in his possession a gun believed to match the "ghost gun" used in Thompson's murder as well as clothing and fake identifications that closely match those that had been used by the shooter. They also found several writings in his possession that were referred to as a "manifesto."
But Dickey on Wednesday said he has not been made aware that there is any evidence linking the gun found on his client directly to the shooting.
"These are things that we're looking to see," he said. "Yesterday was fast. Today's another day. We're looking forward to beginning our inquiry as to what evidence may or may not be out there."
Stephanopoulos pointed out that the gun that was recovered "looks exactly" like the one that was used to kill Thompson, but Dickey responded that "a lot of guns look the same."
"If you brought a gun in and said, 'Well, it looks like that,' I don't even know if that evidence would be admissible," said Dickey. "I would argue it wouldn't be given much weight. That's why they do ballistic tests, ballistics examinations, a test of all that, to try to match that. Trust me, they're going to try to match that firearm to the incident by more than just, well, it looks like that."
The writings found with Mangione, including comments that the "parasites had it coming," could also serve as evidence, but Dickey said he has not "seen any of that yet."
Further, he warned that statements that have been reported in the press may have been taken out of context.
"One of the rules of evidence is there's a rule of completeness," Dickey said. "You have to take any writing or any document in its entirety because some things can be taken out of context. So, again, these are exactly the things that I'm looking to get my hands on."
He added that he hopes he will get the evidence as early as today.
"I really can't comment on something that I haven't seen in its totality," Dickey said.
Mangione was also in possession of a fake New Jersey driver's license that appeared to be the one that had been used at a hostel near the shooting site, but Dickey said he needs to "examine things."
"People put out certain things, parts of different things," he said. "I think any lawyer involved in this situation would want to see it all."
But the attorney refused to comment on whether Mangione told him whether he shot Thompson.
"I would never reveal any conversation between my client [and me]," Dickey said. "That would not be proper. There's an attorney-client privilege. I cannot and would not ever comment on that."
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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