Luigi Mangione, suspect in Brian Thompson slaying, retains high-profile NY attorney

Luigi Mangione, the man charged with murder in the death of UnitedHealthcare executive Brian Thompson, has retained a New York attorney who previously worked in the same office pursuing the case against Mangione.

Karen Friedman Agnifilo will represent Mangione, according to Joan Vollero, a spokesperson for Agnifilo Intrater LLP. Friedman Agnifilo is a veteran of the Manhattan District Attorney's office, where she served as chief assistant district attorney under former DA Cyrus Vance Jr. from 2014 through 2021.

"She will not be making any statements at this time," Vollero said in an email Saturday.

Mangione, 26, is being held in Pennsylvania and has been charged with Thompson's murder, multiple weapons counts and other charges. Meanwhile, a New York grand jury has begun hearing evidence in the case, news outlets reported. The Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg told reporters that he'll pursue Mangione's extradition to New York.

The shooting on Dec. 4 in Midtown Manhattan led to a nearly weeklong manhunt, which ended in Altoona, Pennsylvania, where Mangione was spotted at a McDonald's. He will plead not guilty, attorney Thomas Dickey has said. Donors have contributed thousands to Mangione's legal defense, which Dickey told CNN he probably wouldn't accept.

Dickey didn't immediately respond to an email from USA TODAY on Saturday.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Luigi Mangione hires Karen Friedman Agnifilo, high-profile NY attorney