Judge to decide if key evidence can be used in Luigi Mangione's state trial

Local News Judge in Luigi Mangione's N.Y. case to decide if key evidence can be used By Alexa Herrera Alexa Herrera Digital Producer, CBS News New York Alexa Herrera is a digital producer with the CBS News New York web team. She previously worked with WUFT and WTSP in Florida as a digital producer. She's a Long Island native. Read Full Bio Alexa Herrera May 18, 2026 / 7:59 AM EDT / CBS New York Add CBS News on Google A New York judge will decide Monday if evidence found in Luigi Mangione's backpack during his arrest can be used during his state trial.Mangione is being tried on both federal and state charges for the December 2024 shooting death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. He pleaded not guilty in both cases.The judge is expected to rule on the defense's bid to suppress evidence found in the bag, including a 3D-printed gun, silencer and a notebook. Mangione's lawyers say their client was unlawfully searched when he was arrested at a McDonald's in Altoona, Pennsylvania. The defense said law enforcement should've obtained a warrant before looking in the backpack. Prosecutors say the search was legal and part of standard police procedure. They said the backpack was searched after Mangione gave a false identity to officers.The judge in Mangione's federal case ruled in January that the backpack evidence can be admitted. Legal expert weighs in Legal expert Richard Schoenstein, who isn't affiliated with the case, said this hearing is critical for the trial. "The gun and the writing that suggest a motive are pretty much the best evidence in the case," he said.When a person is taken into custody, police are able to pat them down. But what makes this situation tricky is that Mangione wasn't wearing the backpack when he was arrested.  "If you have a bag on you, generally that's fair game too. But what makes it a little bit different here is that the bag was apparently sitting on the table. It wasn't touching the person of Luigi Mangione....