Defense fund for Luigi Mangione raises over $100,00

An online fundraiser created for murder suspect Luigi Mangione has brought in over $100,000 for the suspect’s ongoing legal defense after he was charged last week with gunning down UnitedHealthcare’s CEO in Manhattan.

Organizers who call themselves “The December 4th Legal Committee” have raised $113,547 for Mr. Mangione’s defense so far, with a current goal of bringing in $200,000.

The group even sent Mr. Mangione, 26, a letter shortly after he was locked up in a Pennsylvania state prison when the fundraiser was still well below where it is now.

“You are going through a lot right now, but we wanted to let you know that we set up a legal defense fund for you and we have received over $30,000 and counting to put towards your defense or, if you do not want the funds, toward the defense of other political prisoners and defendants facing politicized charges,” organizers wrote on the GiveSendGo page.  

The December 4th Legal Committee derives its name from the day UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, a 50-year-old father of two, was shot dead in Midtown Manhattan by a masked gunman.

Police linked Mr. Mangione, 26, to the killing after he was spotted at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, last week.

Authorities said the suspect had the murder weapon, a fake ID he used in New York City and a manifesto referencing the killing when police first detained him. Investigators later matched his DNA with samples taken at the crime scene.

Mr. Mangione, who is part of a prominent Baltimore family and is an Ivy League graduate from the University of Pennsylvania, has pleaded not guilty to the charges. He is currently fighting his extradition to New York City where he will face murder charges.

Organizers wrote that if Mr. Mangione doesn’t want to accept the funds, then “they will instead be donated to legal funds for other U.S political prisoners and defendants facing politicized charges.”