By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2025-03-21 14:32:36 | Updated at 2025-04-04 05:55:00
1 week ago
Luigi Mangione fans have organized a 'special' donation fund for the accused CEO shooter's 27th birthday.
The fund named '27 for Luigi' marks Mangione's birthday coming up on May 6, and fans are urging others to donate $27 toward his legal fund as a 'nice surprise and gift from us to him.'
Their goal is to take his controversial fundraising total from $745,000 - where it currently stands - to $1million.
While no amount of money will grant him bail, the fans hope the cash will be able to put together a convincing enough defense for an acquittal.
Mangione is accused of shooting dead UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in broad daylight in Manhattan in December.
He was arrested in a McDonald's in Pennsylvania after a multi-day manhunt for the suspect. Mangione denies the charges, and say he was ensnared by police who tricked him into giving his DNA.
His fans range from those who think he's innocent, to those who believe he's guilty and love him for it.
In the fundraising notes for his birthday, they say: 'As a community, we want to do something special for Luigi's birthday - we are organizing mass donation event to his legal fund as an initiative to raise money and get everyone involved to reach the goal of $1,000,000.'
Mangione allegedly shot United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson, 50, outside of the Hilton hotel in Midtown Manhattan before he was arrested at an Altoona McDonald's in Pennsylvania on December 9 following a five-day search
Mangione's support since he allegedly murdered the healthcare CEO has been fierce, including one mystery donor who left the largest fund donation yet of $36,500
Donations raised will be put toward Mangione's legal fund, but the campaign is also asking fans to submit birthday wishes, fan art, memes and messages of support.
The fundraising effort is the latest in a series of unhinged and unbridled support for the celebrity defendant.
The public gushing began when Luigi was named as the suspect and his mugshot went viral.
Since then, fans have made art depicting him as 'Saint' Mangione. They say he's a hero who has taken a stand against America's broken healthcare system.
They are also planning to protest the conditions within the jail where he's being held.
The protest, according to the website, will aim to bring attention to 'inhumane' conditions inside the Metropolitan Detention Center, and 'demand justice' for those behind bars.
UnitedHealth CEO Brian Thompson was shot dead in Manhattan in December
The top donation to Luigi's fund has so far been $36,500.
The mystery donor left a cryptic message behind.
'What intrigues me about this case is how unified folks' responses are regardless of strata.
'In Corporate America, for instance, there has been widespread doubt of potential prosecutorial mishandling and overcharging.
'I've also been surprised at the almost ubiquitous nature of support towards the suspect that I would expect to be quite bifurcated in this type of litigation. Quite exceptional,' they said.
The fans have also been tantalized by rumors that Mangione filmed his own sex tapes before the shooting.
One was even being touted online for $500,000. His lawyers have insisted the tapes are not real.
The fund named '27 for Luigi' marks accused CEO killer Luigi Mangione's 27th birthday coming up on May 6, and fans are urging others to donate $27 toward his legal fund as a 'nice surprise and gift from us to him'
'As a community, we want to do something special for Luigi's birthday - we are organizing mass donation event to his legal fund as an initiative to raise money and get everyone involved to reach the goal of $1,000,000,' the website dedicated to the cause
'Hopefully everyone realizes these are fake and not Luigi,' Mangione's lawyer Karen Agnifilo told DailyMail.com.
Mangione allegedly shot United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson, 50, outside of the Hilton hotel in Midtown Manhattan before he was arrested at an Altoona McDonald's in Pennsylvania on December 9 following a five-day search.
He was allegedly found with a 9-millimeter pistol and silencer, clothing that matched the apparel worn by the shooter in surveillance footage, and a notebook describing an intent to 'wack' an insurance company CEO, according to court filings.
Mangione was shipped back to the Big Apple for the murder trial.
