Pennsylvania defense attorney files new motion in Mangione case
HOLLIDAYSBURG, Pa. (WTAJ) — A second pre-trial motion has been filed in Luigi Mangione's outstanding criminal case in Pennsylvania, claiming police had no grounds for his arrest.
In the 36-page motion, defense attorney Tom Dickey said the Altoona Police Department (APD) had no right to arrest Mangione, let alone question him.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Defense lawyer said Luigi Mangione was unlawfully detained
Dickey claims when police approached Mangione at the McDonalds on Plank Road in Altoona back in December, they lacked reasonable suspicion tying Mangione to the murder of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson. In the motion, he wrote that at no point did police speak with anyone on scene who reported Mangione on the basis that he looked like the man seen in suspect photos circulated by the New York Police Department (NYPD) following the shooting. Dickey said this means the information on which APD approached Mangione lacked reliability.
The motion goes on to assert APD did not observe Mangione performing any criminal activity and that police did not have paperwork, photographs, warrants, communication or other information corroborating the speculation that Mangione was the person NYPD was searching for, and therefore, had no grounds to question Mangione under the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments.
Previously, attorneys claimed Mangione was unlawfully interrogated and searched before actually being arrested as officers did not let Mangione know he was free to go and did not advise him of his other rights.
That pre-trial motion has not yet been heard on. Dates for a judge to rule on both of the motions have not yet been set. If the judge rules in favor of the defense on these motions, it could potentially exclude what prosecutors believe to be key pieces of evidence, including Mangione's notebook police said contains a 'manifesto,' due to its illegal seizure.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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