Luigi Mangione, the suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, has retained a former veteran Manhattan prosecutor to defend him against murder charges in New York City.
Karen Friedman-Agnifilo, a seasoned prosecutor who previously led the sex-crimes unit in the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office before transitioning to private practice, will be representing Mangione, as reported by CNN.
According to a New York prosecutor, Friedman-Agnifilo is highly experienced in state court proceedings and is familiar with the courthouse’s ins and outs.
Friedman-Agnifilo has not responded to requests for comment from The Post.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg recently announced that Mangione could be extradited from Pennsylvania to New York City to face murder charges for Thompson’s killing. Mangione had been contesting the extradition orders.
During a public safety press conference in Times Square, Bragg stated, “Indications are that the defendant may waive, but that waiver is not complete until a court proceeding.”
Mangione, a 26-year-old University of Pennsylvania graduate, is accused of shooting Thompson outside a Hilton hotel on Sixth Avenue. His arrest followed a five-day manhunt that ended at a McDonald’s in Pennsylvania.
Police found a 3D-printed pistol, a loaded Glock magazine, fake IDs, and a manifesto-like document in Mangione’s possession. Ballistics from the gun matched shell casings from the crime scene, and Mangione’s fingerprints were found on items near the scene.
Mangione is currently held at the State Correctional Institution in Huntington, Pennsylvania, after being denied bail. He has pleaded not guilty to charges of murder and gun possession.
