Luigi Mangione, the 26-year-old accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, has reportedly been moved by the massive attention and fan adoration he has received since his arrest. Mangione, who has pleaded not guilty to state murder and terror charges, has received thousands of dollars in donations and hundreds of handwritten letters in jail, with some of his fellow inmates even helping him get a “glow up” before his extradition to New York City.
The alleged assassin, who has become a world-famous sensation, is said to be “extremely aware of the massive fan base he has right now.” He was reportedly “shocked and really choked up” when he first saw the support he has received, which has given him “confidence and reassurance that he will be okay.”
Mangione’s fellow inmates in Pennsylvania may have even helped him get a haircut and shave before his extradition to NYC. The IVY league graduate is said to be used to receiving attention from “men and women alike” but “not to this level.” He is “moved” by the public’s bizarre fixation on him, which has extended to other prisoners.
Mangione’s lawyer, Karen Agnifilo, has criticized the NYPD for turning his return to New York into a “choreographed spectacle,” saying that it was “absolutely unnecessary.” Mangione is being held in a Brooklyn federal jail alongside several other high-profile defendants.
The case has garnered massive attention, with memes, merchandise, and religious-themed candles that glorify Mangione popping up all over the internet. Outside the courthouse, a few dozen supporters chanted “Free Luigi” over the blare of a trumpet, with some fans even dressing up as Luigi from the Super Mario Bros video game.