Luigi Mangione, the man accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, has accepted nearly $300,000 in donations from supporters to fund his legal defense, according to a statement from the December 4 Legal Committee.
Legal fund gains widespread support
The committee, which has been managing a fundraiser on GiveSendGo, confirmed that Mangione’s legal team has accepted the $297,000 raised through over 10,000 individual donations.
Mangione’s lead attorney, Karen Friedman Agnifilo, reportedly told the committee that her client “very much appreciates the outpouring of support” as he awaits trial. A source confirmed the legitimacy of the post, though Agnifilo declined to comment further.
High-profile case sparks controversy
Mangione, the son of a wealthy Maryland real estate family and an Ivy League graduate, faces both state and federal murder charges for allegedly shooting Thompson outside a Manhattan hotel on December 4.
According to police, the masked suspect fled the scene, sparking a week-long manhunt that ended in Altoona, Pennsylvania. Authorities say Mangione was found with a 9mm ghost gun, fake IDs, and a manifesto critical of the health insurance industry.
He has pleaded not guilty to state charges, including an act of terrorism, and remains in pretrial detention at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. Federal charges could lead to the death penalty.
Supporters criticize charges as “unacceptable”
The December 4 Legal Committee claims mainstream media has tried to “demonize” Mangione, but many Americans sympathize with him.
“The average American understands who the real culprits are,” the group wrote in a post, referring to the health insurance industry. They described the terrorism charges as “fundamentally unacceptable” and vowed to continue fundraising for Mangione throughout his trial.
UnitedHealthcare has not responded to requests for comment on the case.
