UnitedHealthcare CEO death: Luigi Mangione pleads not guilty to ...

Luigi Mangione, 26, accused of fatally shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Midtown Manhattan, pleaded not guilty to charges of murder and terrorism during a New York courtroom appearance on Monday, CNN reported.

This marks Mangione's initial response to the charges brought by the Manhattan District Attorney's Office. (Photo: Reuters)

Mangione faces 11 counts, including first-degree murder, two counts of second-degree murder, as well as charges related to weapons possession and forgery. According to court documents, he was found with a black 3D-printed pistol and silencer, which prosecutors allege he used in the fatal shooting of Thompson outside a Hilton Hotel in Midtown Manhattan. (Photo: Agencies)

Mangione's attorney, Karen Friedman Agnifilo, voiced concerns about her client's ability to receive a fair trial, citing the spectacle surrounding his extradition to New York. She specifically mentioned Mayor Eric Adams' presence among dozens of armed law enforcement officials during the extradition.

"He's being treated like a human ping-pong ball by two warring jurisdictions," Agnifilo said. (Photo: Agencies)

Judge Gregory Carro assured the defense that a fair trial would be conducted, emphasizing that the jury selection process would be handled with care. The next court date is set for February 21. (Photo: Reuters)

Mangione was arrested on December 9 at a McDonald's in Altoona, Pennsylvania. New York prosecutors subsequently charged him with murder, weapons possession, and forgery.

During a December 11 extradition hearing in Pennsylvania, evidence presented by Detective Yousef Demes linked Mangione to surveillance footage showing the fatal shooting of Thompson. (Photo: AP)

Demonstrators gathered outside the New York State Supreme Court in Manhattan on December 23, 2024, during Luigi Mangione’s court appearance. Mangione, charged with the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, pleaded not guilty as he was arraigned. The hearing took place under heightened public attention, with protesters voicing their outrage as Mangione faced charges for the high-profile murder. (Photo: Dave Sanders/The New York Times)