- The judge ordered an anonymous jury for Luigi Mangione’s murder trial, which is expected to start with jury selection on Sept. 8.
- Mangione has pleaded not guilty to murder, weapons and forgery charges in New York, as well as stalking charges in a separate federal case.
- Prosecutors say their case relies on surveillance video, fingerprints, DNA, cellphone evidence, ballistics and a notebook allegedly linking Mangione to hostility toward insurers.
A New York judge said jurors in Luigi Mangione’s murder trial will remain anonymous when the case begins next month.
Mangione, 28, faces charges over the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside a Manhattan hotel in December 2024. Thompson led UnitedHealth Group’s insurance unit and was killed early in the morning outside a hotel where an investor conference was taking place.
New York state Justice Gregory Carro announced the anonymous jury decision during a Tuesday hearing. He did not explain the reason. Anonymous juries are uncommon in US criminal trials, though judges use them in some high-profile cases when they see a risk of harassment or intimidation.
Carro also ruled that an overflow courtroom will be available for press and public access if the main courtroom reaches capacity. The case has drawn intense attention since the killing, the release of graphic footage and a five-day manhunt that ended with Mangione’s arrest in Pennsylvania.
Public officials condemned Thompson’s killing. At the same time, the case became a proxy for public anger over health insurance industry practices.
That tension has kept the trial under national scrutiny and turned court-access decisions into part of the proceeding itself.
Mangione has pleaded not guilty to murder, weapons and forgery charges brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. He also pleaded not guilty to stalking charges in a separate federal case.
Prosecutors say they will prove Mangione’s guilt through hundreds of hours of surveillance video, fingerprints, DNA, a cellphone, a gun with matching ballistics and a notebook in which Mangione allegedly wrote about hating insurers and wanting to kill.
Mangione’s lawyers have disclosed little about their trial strategy. A July court filing indicated they might argue he lost control of his actions during an extreme mental health breakdown. They have not conceded that he was the shooter.
The federal case against Mangione is scheduled to begin in January.
According to Beinsure, in February 2026, in New York City, on Manhattan, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, a leading American health insurance company, was fatally shot.
Brian Thompson sustained a fatal gunshot wound around 7 a.m. near the Hilton Hotel, where he was scheduled to speak at an investor conference.
The 50-year-old was transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The suspect fled the scene, according to the New York Police Department (NYPD).
Preliminary police reports suggest Thompson was targeted. The suspect waited for him near the hotel, wearing a mask and a dark jacket.
Investigators have video footage of the attack, but it does not reveal the suspect’s motives. The attacker took nothing from the victim.
The attack occurred in the heart of New York City, just steps away from Central Park, Times Square, Rockefeller Center, and the Museum of Modern Art.
The suspect initially fled on foot and later used an electric bike. He was last seen in Central Park. A $10,000 reward has been offered for information about the suspect.
BBC correspondent Phil McClosland noted that despite New York’s extensive surveillance system, which includes over 18,000 cameras with facial recognition capabilities, capturing the suspect in a bustling area with heavy traffic and large crowds could be challenging.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul called the attack “horrific and deliberate.” She stated that state police have been directed to provide all necessary support to investigators to ensure the safety of New Yorkers. “Our hearts go out to Mr. Thompson’s family and loved ones, and we will ensure the perpetrator is brought to justice,” she said.
