Mangione defense fund tops $1M
The fundraiser for Luigi Mangione, the man who is accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson late last year, has topped $1 million.
The GiveGoSend fundraiser has brought in more than $1,042,000 as of Tuesday afternoon, with the goal of raising $1,500,000.
The fund has received funding from more than 28,000 individual donors. The average donation is around $20, according to the organizers, who said the money will be used for expenses related to all three of Mangione’s criminal cases.
Mangione is accused of shooting Thompson on Dec. 4 in Manhattan.
He was indicted by a federal grand jury in New York last month on four counts, including stalking, a firearms charge and murder through the use of a firearm. If Mangione is convicted of the charges, he would be eligible for the death penalty, something the Department of Justice has pushed for since early April.
Mangione pleaded not guilty to a federal judge on April 25.
Attorney General Pam Bondi previously said prosecutors will consider the executive’s killing as “an act of political violence.”
Mangione is also staring down state-level charges in Pennsylvania and New York. He has pleaded not guilty to the 11 charges brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, along with four charges in Pennsylvania.
Authorities say Mangione fled the city after allegedly killing Thompson, who was set to attend an investor conference. He was arrested in Altoona, Pa., at a McDonald's five days later with a loaded firearm and a silencer.
Tuesday marks Mangione’s 27th birthday.
One anonymous donor, who gave $27, said “Happy Birthday to the man, the myth, and the legend Mr. Luigi Nicholas Mangione. I hope you know how loved and supported you are…”