A woman who locked eyes with Luigi Mangione when he left the court, said it felt like a 'out of body experience'.
The 26-year-old murder suspect was greeted by stars affected by stars when he went in Manhattan Criminal Court for a status hearing on Friday.
Mangione is accused of shooting the Chief Executive of the UnitedHealthcare outside the New York Hilton Midtown on December 4.
Under his supporters, Hailey was Viviani, 23, who said she thought 'oh my God' when the alleged murderer stared her down when he walked away after the hearing.
Speaking then Viviani, a cashier of States Island, New York,: 'To see him with the buoys on his hands and his arms, it was dehumanious. They treat him as if he is a terrible person and it is really sad to see.
“Seeing online is one thing, but seeing it in the meat.”
Asked what it was like to see Mangione personally, Vivian said: “To be honest, it was like an outlying experience. I have seen all the videos, but this was the first time I attended a judicial date.
'On the way to the outside he scanned the crowd and I made eye contact, but I looked away, but I didn't want to make eye contact for too long.
“But then I saw him looking at me and said,” Oh my God, “she said, waving her hand next to her face.
Luigi Mangione was seen for the first time since December during a hearing in a courthouse in Manhattan
Brian Thompson, surveillance camera images, the disturbing moment that UnitedHealthcare CEO was shot and killed in the streets of NYC
Brian Thompson was killed on December 4, 2024 outside a hotel in the streets of Manhattan
Viviani added: 'If he really did it, I don't agree with murder, but so many people are sewn by health care.
“My grandmother has asthma, my grandfather has a heart problem, all these medicines are expensive, I have seen it.”
Outside the court, a crowd of about 150 people sang 'free luigi' and held posters and a flag with Mangione's face up.
Among them were two friends who gave their names like Sarah and Mary who said they traveled from Jenkintown, Pennsylvania, for the hearing.
Both stopped drawing and said: 'Free Luigi'.
Sarah said: “He is not a terrorist. We are here to show that we have not forgotten him. His message is about uniting the country and the way we are sewn by companies. '
Mary said: 'There are people who have committed worse crimes like serial killers. He does not deserve the death penalty.
“This was a wake -up call for America. He started with a revolution. '
Mangione was in buoys with his lawyers, a bulletproof vest and a green sweater during Friday's hearing
Mangione was greeted with the support of fans who gathered outside the courthouse in the hope of getting a glimpse of him
Mangione sat and listened while his lawyer, Karen Friedman Agnifilo, argued that he did not get a fair test
On December 23, Mangione was not guilty of murder and terror for the murder of Thompson on December 4.
Karen Friedman Agnifilo, Marc Agnifilo and Jacob Kaplan represent Mangione.
Agnifilo received a thunderous applause from Mangione's supporters when she entered the courtroom.
She argued in the court that the constitutional rights of Mangione may have been violated when officers arrested him and seized his possessions.
It was also claimed that the defense had not received any critical proof of the prosecution and claimed that Mangione's right to a fair trial was influenced.
The Mangione team told Judge Gregory Carro that they did not have enough access to their client while being held in a federal detention center in Brooklyn.
Mangione was chained with his hands and ankles in court, while Judge Carro denied the defense's request to remove them.
His family was not present in the courthouse, but they did release a statement after the arrest of Mangione.
'Our family is shocked and destroyed by the arrest of Luigi. We offer our prayers to the family of Brian Thompson and we ask people to pray for all involved. We were destroyed by this news, “they said at the time.
Mangione is currently being held in a federal detention center in Brooklyn, while details about his trial unfold
Proponents of Luigi Mangione showed up on Friday in a courthouse in Manhattan for a hearing
Imagery of Mangione as a saint appeared in the entire day of his hearing in New York City
Friday's hearing was the first time Mangione has been seen outside the detention center since December.
Mangione was arrested in Altoona, Pennsylvania, five days after he had killed Thompson outside the Hilton Hotel.
He is accused of having shot the CEO twice and to flee the stage on an electric bicycle. The shooting of a man who is looking for the alleged murderer. Surveillance camera made a photo of the suspect and the audience was asked to help the police find him.
A tip from someone who claimed that they saw Mangione in a McDonald's led to his arrest. He was delivered back to New York City on December 19.
Photographers have recorded the shocking moment that Mangione had accompanied a Manhattan -Pier in addition to several armed officers, mayor Eric Adams and police commissioner Jessica Tisch.
Mangione's case fascinated the public because many Americans resonated with anger to health care.
The fanfare around Mangione has reached shocking heights, with statues of Mangione as a saint who pops up around Manhattan.
A New Yorker recorded a edited photo of Mangione plastered on the back of a tractor trailer.
The supporters of Mangione have packed the courtroom to catch a glimpse of the man who is known as a 'civil guard'.
Photographers have captured beautiful images of Mangione who were accompanied by armed officers and mayor Eric Adams after he was delivered back to New York City
Images that support Mangione appeared throughout Manhattan when the now infamous 'Vigilante' for a hearing appeared for a hearing
Supporters who carry signs that are 'free luigi', they pressed outside the courthouse in Manhattan in the hope of Mangione
Some fans even gone as far as donating money to his Defensive Fund. A fundraising with Givesdgo was set up for Mangione in December for a goal of $ 1 million.
Fundraising has already collected more than $ 500,000 to support Mangione. The description clarified that the organizers did not celebrate violence, but “believes in the constitutional law of fair legal representation.”
Mangione issued a statement last week in which the public was thanked for the support. “Powerful, this support has crossed political, racial and even class departments, since Mail has flooded MDC from all over the country and all over the world,” said the statement. '
“Although it is impossible for me to answer most letters, then know that I read everyone I receive.”
Mangione is confronted with federal murder, firearms and stalking charges. The state did not announce whether they would look for the death penalty. His next hearing is planned for March 19.
