{"id":2606529,"date":"2026-05-24T21:27:03","date_gmt":"2026-05-25T01:27:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/this-could-sink-mangiones-defense-judge-allows-notebook-gun-as-evidence\/"},"modified":"2026-05-24T21:29:40","modified_gmt":"2026-05-25T01:29:40","slug":"this-could-sink-mangiones-defense-judge-allows-notebook-gun-as-evidence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/this-could-sink-mangiones-defense-judge-allows-notebook-gun-as-evidence\/","title":{"rendered":"This Could Sink Mangione&#8217;s Defense: Judge Allows Notebook, Gun as Evidence"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fthis-could-sink-mangiones-defense-judge-allows-notebook-gun-as-evidence%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2606529&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A judge in Luigi Mangione\u2019s state murder case ruled that prosecutors can use certain items found in his backpack-including a gun and a notebook-as evidence at trial. The ruling follows a review of how police obtained the items after Mangione\u2019s arrest near a McDonald\u2019s in Altoona, Pennsylvania.<\/p>\n<p>The decision was a significant win for the prosecution: Judge Gregory Carro held that evidence later catalogued at the police station was admissible under an inventory-search exception. He noted that prosecutors may present the alleged murder weapon and materials they say show motive, including a 3D-printed pistol prosecutors claim matches the one used to kill UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson and a notebook referencing hostility toward a health-insurance executive.<\/p>\n<p>Though, the judge blocked other items that officers had taken from the backpack earlier, before a warrant was obtained. He found that the initial search-after police had already stopped briefly-amounted to an improper warrantless search under New York law. The judge also excluded some statements Mangione made to police before he was handcuffed, finding that he was effectively in custody when certain rights were not properly conveyed.<\/p>\n<p>the court ruling expands what the jury can hear while narrowing portions of the defense\u2019s arguments about unlawful searches. Mangione, who pleaded not guilty, faces a state trial beginning Sept. 8 and a separate federal trial on Oct. 13.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><br \/>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\"><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_0)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>A gun and notebook that prosecutors say link Luigi Mangione to the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson can be used as evidence at his murder trial, a judge ruled Monday, rejecting a defense argument that they were seized illegally.<\/p>\n<p>Judge Gregory Carro\u2019s decision, five months after he held a hearing to examine how police came upon the items, is a major win for prosecutors, enabling them to show jurors a possible murder weapon and motive. That mirrors an earlier ruling in <a href=\"https:\/\/judge%20previously%20ruled%20to%20allow%20the%20items\">Mangione\u2019s federal case<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>But Carro also excluded items officers pulled from Mangione\u2019s backpack before his arrest at a McDonald\u2019s restaurant in Altoona, Pennsylvania. He said the loaded gun magazine, cellphone, passport, wallet and computer chip resulted from an \u201cimproper warrantless search.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He also excluded some statements he made to police before he was handcuffed.<\/p>\n<p>The judge did allow items found as officers inventoried the backpack\u2019s contents later at a police station \u2014 including a 3D-printed pistol prosecutors say matches the one used to kill Thompson, and a notebook that describes wanting to \u201cwack\u201d a health insurance executive.<\/p>\n<p>Carro said such inventory searches are an exception to the U.S. Constitution\u2019s protections against unreasonable searches and seizures. Police obtained a search warrant hours later.<\/p>\n<p>Mangione was arrested on Dec. 9, 2024, five days after Thompson was killed outside a Manhattan hotel. Altoona is about 230 miles (370 kilometers) west of Manhattan.<\/p>\n<p>Mangione, 28, didn\u2019t speak as Carro summarized his decision. About two dozen of his supporters, some wearing \u201cFree Luigi\u201d T-shirts, crowded the courtroom\u2019s gallery.<\/p>\n<p>Mangione\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/man-impersonated-fbi-agent-in-attempt-to-free-luigi-mangione\/\" title=\"Man impersonated FBI agent in attempt to free Luigi Mangione\">state murder trial<\/a> is set to begin on Sept. 8, and his federal trial, which involves stalking charges, on Oct. 13. The federal judge ruled all of backpack\u2019s contents into evidence.<\/p>\n<p>Mangione has pleaded not guilty to all the charges, and could spend his life in prison if convicted in either case.<\/p>\n<p>Both sides win something in this ruling<\/p>\n<p>Mangione\u2019s lawyers argued that the searches were illegal because officers had no warrant when they looked through the backpack.<\/p>\n<p>Prosecutors argued that the initial search at the McDonald\u2019s was legal because it was conducted in conjunction with an arrest and because officers followed Altoona police protocols requiring them to check for dangerous items.<\/p>\n<p>But Carro said New York law applies, and that officers had eliminated the justification for an immediate safety search by moving the backpack outside Mangione\u2019s \u201cgrabbable area\u201d as other restaurant customers passed nearby.<\/p>\n<p>Citing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/alleged-paul-pelosi-attacker-pleads-not-guilty\/\" title=\"Alligator Paul Pelosi Pleads Not Guilty\">body-worn camera video<\/a>, Carro also ruled out some statements Mangione made when he was effectively in custody but not yet apprised of his right to remain silent.<\/p>\n<p>Mangione told police early on he didn\u2019t want to talk, but officers engaged him for almost 20 minutes before getting him to admit that he had given them a fake name and phony New Jersey driver\u2019s license.<\/p>\n<p>An NYPD lieutenant testified in December that the shooter had used the same name \u2014 Mark Rosario \u2014 to buy a bus ticket to New York and stay at a Manhattan hostel.<\/p>\n<p>Surveillance video showed a masked gunman shooting Thompson from behind on Dec. 4, 2024, as the executive walked to his company\u2019s annual investor conference.<\/p>\n<p>Police say \u201cdelay,\u201d \u201cdeny\u201d and \u201cdepose\u201d were written on the ammunition, mimicking a phrase used to describe how <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/luigi-mangiones-lawyers-say-bondis-death-penalty-decision-was-tainted-by-conflict-of-interest\/\" title=\"Luigi Mangione\u2018s lawyers say Bondi\u2019s death penalty ... was tainted by conflict of interest\">insurers avoid paying claims<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Officer\u2019s decision to pause search may have tilted ruling<\/p>\n<p>Mangione was not yet under arrest, let alone subject to a judicial search warrant, when officers initially responded to a 911 call about a man who looked like the suspect in Thompson\u2019s killing.<\/p>\n<p>They began searching his backpack, but stopped after finding the gun magazine wrapped in a pair of underwear. They also found the notebook, Carro noted, but did not open it or see the writings at that point.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s him, dude. It\u2019s him, 100 percent,\u201d Altoona Police Officer Stephen Fox said on body-worn camera video before telling his colleague to pause the search and resume at the station. \u201cLet\u2019s just take it back,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>That momentary decision likely preserved the prosecution\u2019s ability to use the gun and notebook as evidence at trial. Carro said evidence logged in the subsequent inventory search, including apparent to-do lists and getaway plans, is admissible.<\/p>\n<p>Prosecutors have quoted extensively from Mangione\u2019s handwritten diary in court filings, noting his praise for Unabomber Ted Kaczynski and his musings about rebelling against \u201cthe deadly, <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >greed fueled health insurance cartel<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-style: italic;\">The Western Journal has reviewed this Associated Press story and may have altered it prior to publication to ensure that it meets our editorial standards.<\/p>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #171717; display: flex;font-size: 16px;font-weight: 600;line-height: 1.5;margin: 24px 0;padding: 18px 20px 18px 30px;text-align: left;\">\n<div style=\"align-self: stretch;border-left: 3px solid #171717;flex-shrink: 0;padding-left: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<p><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/\">Choose The Western Journal as your preferred source on Google and never miss reporting that defends truth, protects freedom, and advances Western civilization<\/a><\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/court-of-appeals-in-swing-states-drop-major-ruling-hurting-kamala-harris-chances-against-trump\/\" title=\"Court of Appeals in Swing States Drop Major ..., Hurting Kamala Harris&#039; Chances Against Trump\">highly engaged readers<\/a>, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey == typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts = { \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs = [ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i = 0; i < inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! 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