Luigi Mangione noticed himself as a Robin Hood-like hero and flashed a “proud” grin when the UnitedHealthcare’s inventory worth plummeted after he gunned down CEO Brian Thompson, a former inmate claimed.
Linus Fu, a former prisoner at Brooklyn’s notorious Metropolitan Detention Heart, informed Courthouse Information he befriended the 28-year-old admitted killer and witnessed his ascension to celeb standing within the lockup.
Fu — who was behind bars from January 2025 to July 2026 for a low-level function in a financial institution fraud scheme — fashioned a “actually good relationship” with Mangione within the consumption wing and noticed him each day, he informed the outlet.
Mangione matter-of-factly pleaded responsible final week to 2 federal stalking counts for fatally capturing Thompson on a Midtown Road on Dec. 4, 2024. Every depend carries a possible life sentence.
Fu, 32, who has since been despatched again to his house nation of China, mentioned some inmates dismissed Mangione as aloof and boastful — together with his bunkmate even blasting the Ivy League graduate killer as somebody who “simply needs consideration.”
He mentioned he thought Mangione noticed himself as a Robin Hood determine, and was “proud” after UnitedHealthcare’s inventory worth dipped after gunning down the CEO.
“He was smiling,” Fu recalled, noting it was the one time the pair mentioned Mangione’s case.
When Fu requested whether or not Mangione wished consideration, the Maryland native denied the motive within the killing.
“He mentioned, ‘I didn’t try this for the celebrity,’” Fu mentioned. “He mainly admitted he did it.”
Although Mangione was “actually quiet,” the previous inmate mentioned he was a jokester who lobbed snowballs into Fu’s cell and autographed his spouse’s and bunkmate’s spouse’s birthday playing cards.
“He’s a humorous man. He all the time jokes,” Fu informed the outlet. “He’s younger, he’s artistic.”
“Most individuals, they know Luigi,” he mentioned. “Some individuals ask for autographs, some individuals wish to discuss to him.”
Fu and Mangione, who was in MDC’s consumption unit for his safety, bonded over their training and books — together with studying John H. Richardson’s “Luigi: The Making and the That means,” about Mangione’s case.
“He’d verify my progress on a regular basis,” Fu mentioned. “He mentioned, ‘What web page are you on proper now?’”
“Lots of people despatched books, completely different sorts of magazines,” Fu mentioned. “I don’t know why they despatched journey magazines to Luigi, that made no sense. He can’t journey, why would you ship him a journey journal?”
Mangione’s supporters additionally subscribed him to the New York Occasions, however he handed off the newspapers to Fu to assist him observe his English, he recalled.
However Manhattan District Legal professional Alvin Bragg’s workplace has mentioned it is going to foyer to maintain its case alive, at the least till it learns the severity of the sentence Mangione receives in federal court docket.
After his shock federal responsible plea, Mangione’s state homicide trial gained’t begin subsequent month as deliberate.
Justice Gregory Carro on Monday pushed Mangione’s subsequent look date to Dec. 10, suspending the trial indefinitely, court docket information present.
The CEO slayer now needs his state case tossed, arguing it will represent “double jeopardy” — being tried for a similar crime twice — in gentle of his federal plea.
