(NewsNation) — Legal defense donations are pouring in for Luigi Mangione, the man accused of killing former UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
Mangione is accused of gunning down Thompson outside his New York City hotel on Dec. 4 before fleeing to Pennsylvania where he was arrested following a manhunt.
On Dec. 9, police in Altoona, Pennsylvania, responded to reports of a man matching authorities’ description of the suspect at a local McDonalds.
It was there Mangione was arrested and found with a mask, firearm, suppressor and fake New Jersey ID that connected him to the shooting.
Fingerprints were also taken from Mangione matched those found on a water bottle near the place in New York City, sources told NewsNation local affiliate WPIX.
Mangione was extradited to New York and is currently being held at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center.
Luigi Mangione’s defense fund rises
Donations are nearly at $300,000 after an initial goal was set at $200,000. The goal has now been elevated to $500,000.
The online fundraiser on GiveSendGo was at $296,000 at the time of writing. Mangione has accepted the funds, according to a press release obtained by NewsNation from the December 4 Legal Committee.
“We’re thrilled that Luigi is accepting these funds so that he can mount the strongest defense possible,”
D4 Legal Committee spokesperson Sam Beardm said in the release. “The American private health insurance industry has ruined countless lives by denying people access to basic care and burying families in medical debt.”
There have been more than 10,000 individual donations to Mangione’s defense fund. He is facing three different cases concerning the accused murder of Thompson. Mangione has pleaded not guilty.
What’s next for Luigi Mangione?
The next hearing is on Feb. 21 in Manhattan, regarding New York state cases. Mangione is also facing a federal case for murder and stalking charges.
The Department of Justice has not said whether or not they will seek the death penalty, but Mangione’s attorneys have hired a death penalty expert should the DOJ look to pursue it.
Could Luigi Mangione’s popularity set him free?
As the crowdfunding attests to, Mangione has something of a cult following among a certain sect of Americans.
Even without the death penalty, Mangione is facing the possibility, if found guilty, of life imprisonment without parole.
Former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani told NewsNation that many sympathize with Mangione notwithstanding the alleged crimes due to a rejection of the American healthcare system.
“I have never seen a criminal defendant, much less an accused murderer, receive as much sympathy both on traditional media and social media. He is a folk hero of sorts to many,” Rahmani said.