Luigi Mangione, the alleged shooter of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, had his rights violated by Altoona police when they confronted him while at a McDonald's in Pennsylvania, his lawyers claim. In a recent court filing, Mangione’s lawyer, Thomas Dickey, argued that police "had no objective grounds" to detain the University of Pennsylvania graduate, 26, "other than a hunch and/or unparticularized suspicion,” ABC News reports. After his arrest, officers allegedly provided Mangione with a snack so they could obtain a DNA sample, according to his attorney, and that any DNA samples are "poisonous fruits" and shouldn't be allowed as part of the evidence. Mangione is charged with multiple counts of murder, terrorism and stalking in the Dec. 4 shooting of Thompson outside a Midtown Manhattan hotel, where a masked gunman fired at least three shots and then fled the scene on a bike. He has pleaded not guilty.
Luigi Mangione has claimed he was 'tricked' by police to get his DNA by plying him with snacks and soda. Mangione has amassed a considerable following since he was arrested and charged for the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside the Hilton Hotel in Midtown in December 2024. Prosecutors believe the accused killer was angry with US healthcare insurance companies as they allege that he stalked Thompson and waited until the right moment to shoot him. Now his legal team is arguing in court that his DNA was falsely obtained with police violating his rights to collect it, as they argue his DNA evidence can't be deemed admissible in court.
Pennsylvania cops illegally collected Luigi Mangione’s DNA when they gave him food and a soda at a police station the day of his arrest, the accused UnitedHealthcare CEO killer’s lawyers claim in court papers. Mangione’s lawyers claim he was illegally arrested at McDonald’s in Altoona, Pa. on Dec. 9 since cops lacked probable cause during the encounter and allegedly failed to read him his rights and inform him he was a suspect for at least 20 minutes when he was swarmed by over ten officers.
