Luigi Mangione, the suspect accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in broad daylight on a Manhattan street last December, has accepted nearly $470,000 in donations for his legal fees.
The 26-year-old faces state and federal charges in New York and Pennsylvania for allegedly gunning down Thompson.
“Luigi is aware of the fund and very much appreciates the outpouring of support,” Mangione’s lead defence attorney Karen Friedman Agnifilo, said in a statement via the December 4 [D4] Legal Committee, the group that raised the money and is named after the date Thompson was shot and killed.
“My client plans on utilizing it to fight all three of the unprecedented cases against him.”
More than 10,000 individual donors contributed to the fundraiser set up on GiveSendGo, which has garnered more than (US)$330,000 — (CDN)$470,000 — as of Tuesday afternoon, with a target if (US)$500,000 — (CDN)$715,000 — that will continue throughout the duration of the trial.
“We are thrilled that the money raised by this campaign will go toward building the strongest possible defence against these insulting charges,” the organizers posted on the fundraising site.
“We remain committed to a world where our survival and wellbeing are no longer sacrificed for another’s wealth.”
Mangione allegedly shot Thompson outside the hotel where UnitedHealthcare’s annual shareholder conference was being held.
Prosecutors say the fatal shooting was intended as a message to the health-care insurance industry.
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Police found a manifesto on Mangione when he was arrested days later in Altoona, Pa., where he travelled by bus from New York after Thompson’s slaying.
A former homicide detective and criminal trial attorney, however, called the fundraising efforts “shocking” and sad.
“It’s shocking that anybody would raise money for a person (accused of killing) someone in broad daylight in cold blood. There are so many other causes in this country that a person could raise money for,” Ted Williams told Fox News.
“Mangione, by the way, came from a very well-off family… raising money for him is like applauding murder.”
Mangione has pleaded not guilty to all charges. The allegations against him have not been tested in court.
He could face the death penalty if found guilty in the federal case.