Should Luigi Mangione Go to Prison If Convicted? What New Poll Says

A recent poll found that a majority of college students believe that Luigi Mangione should be sentenced to time in prison if convicted.

If Mangione is found guilty—according to a poll conducted by College Pulse and shared with Newsweek—32 percent of survey participants said he should be sentenced to life imprisonment with the possibility of parole; 14 percent chose life imprisonment without the chance of parole; 26 percent preferred a fixed-term prison sentence; and 2 percent believed he should get the death penalty. The remaining respondents chose "other" or "no opinion."

Why It Matters

Mangione has gained support in some corners of the internet, including a fundraiser for his legal defense fund that has raised over $200,000.

The CEO of UnitedHealthcare, 50-year-old Brian Thompson, was fatally shot outside a Hilton hotel in Midtown Manhattan on December 4. Mangione, 26, was apprehended at a McDonald's in Altoona, Pennsylvania, on December 9 in the search for a suspect.

Luigi Mangione appears in a Manhattan courtroom for his arraignment in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, on December 23 in New York City. Mangione faces federal and state charges. Curtis Means/Pool Photo via AP

Mangione was arraigned in federal court earlier this month on two counts of stalking, one count of murder through use of a firearm and a firearms offense. He also faces multiple state charges in New York and Pennsylvania.

What To Know

The poll collected responses from over 1,000 college students. All respondents had heard about the shooting, with differing levels of familiarity.

A little more than half said they "strongly sympathize" or "somewhat sympathize" with the suspect, while 26 percent said they felt "neutral."

Just over 20 percent of respondents said they "do not sympathize" or "strongly do not sympathize" with the suspect.

When asked how satisfied they were with the current state of health care in the U.S., 70 percent answered "somewhat dissatisfied" or "very dissatisfied." When asked to identify who was responsible for the high cost of health care, 43 percent said insurance companies were to blame.

What People Are Saying

Mangione's lawyer Karen Friedman Agnifilo, in court: "I am very concerned about my client's right to a fair trial in this case. He is being prejudiced by some statements that are being made by government officials."

New York City Mayor Eric Adams: "I want to thank all the individuals and law enforcement who helped bring this suspect into custody. The NYPD stops at nothing to catch criminals."

What Happens Next

Mangione is being held without bail in Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center. His next federal court appearance is set for January 18 and he's due back in state court on February 21.

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