Trial date set for Luigi Mangione's federal case

A trial date has been set for Luigi Mangione's federal case. He's accused of murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in December 2024.

Judge Margaret Garnett said jury selection will start Sept. 8.

Opening statements will start Oct. 13 if it's not a capital case. If the judge does allow prosecutors to seek the death penalty, opening statements will start Jan. 11, 2027.

The dates were set as Mangione returned to federal court Friday at a hearing focused on if the 27-year-old's backpack was lawfully searched during his December 2024 arrest at a Pennsylvania McDonald's.

Mangione was wearing tan prison clothes with his hands unshackled and feet shackled. 

The defense argued it was a warrantless search and asked the judge to suppress the evidence found inside. Police found a 3D-printed handgun, loaded magazine, notebook, map and a "survival kit." 

Officers testified that it's standard procedure to take property like a backpack from a suspect during an arrest. A preliminary search of the backpack would have also been standard procedure.

A judge did not issue a decision on the motion.

Mangione has pleaded not guilty to federal and state charges related to Thompson's killing. He could face the death penalty if convicted on some of the federal charges.

His lawyers are trying to get two federal counts dismissed, including the one carrying the possibility of the death penalty.