The attorney representing Luigi Mangione, the alleged gunman who fatally shot UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson last week, says he hasn’t “seen any evidence” showing his client is guilty.
Mangione’s legal representation, Thomas Dickey, shared his thoughts on the case with NewsNation’s “Cuomo” on Tuesday, saying all that’s been discussed so far is allegations.
“I don’t want people to jump to these pre-judgment things, because nobody would ever want that if they were accused or their loved ones were accused,” Dickey said, adding that during Tuesday’s hearing, he didn’t see “any evidence” that would implicate Mangione.
He continued saying that the footage that’s been released of the shooting isn’t a smoking gun.
“I don’t even know if this is him or whatever,” Dickey said. “So, we’re going to test those waters and give the government a chance to bring some evidence forward.”
Mangione was arrested and charged Monday in connection to Thompson’s murder, which was carried out last week in the middle of Manhattan and resulted in a manhunt that went on for days across the East Coast.
The 26-year-old, a University of Pennsylvania graduate, was eventually confronted by police at a McDonald’s roughly two hours outside of Pittsburgh after police were tipped off by an employee.
Mangione was found with a ghost gun, silencer, an anti health care system manifesto, and a fake New Jersey ID card with a name on it consistent with the one the suspect used to check into a New York hostel on Nov. 24, according to CBS News.
He was charged with five crimes in Pennsylvania that were unrelated to the shooting. Those included forgery, carrying a firearm without a license, tampering with records or identification, possessing instruments of a crime, and false identification to law enforcement.
He was then charged by New York prosecutors with one count of second-degree murder, two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, one count of second-degree possession of a forged document, and one count of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon.
Dickey maintained on Tuesday that no evidence has been brought forward that suggests his client is connected to Thompson’s shooting. He also said the gun Mangione was carrying was not a definitive match to the murder weapon.
Outside his hearing on Tuesday, Mangione was heard yelling at the press, saying the phrases “completely out of touch” and “an insult to the intelligence of the American people.” However, it’s unknown who he was talking about.
Dickey says he plans on developing a relationship with his client to learn more, adding that he has met with him already.
“He seemed to understand my questions. He seemed to be able to interact with me, and so I was pleased with that,” Dickey said.
The attorney echoed the points he made on “Cuomo” outside the courthouse on Tuesday to reporters.
“If you’re an American, you believe in the American criminal justice system, you have to presume him to be innocent,” Dickey said. “None of us would want anything other than that if that were us in those shoes.”