New York Judge Gregory Carro ruled Monday that the gun and notebook obtained during Luigi Mangione’s arrest in December 2024 are admissible as evidence in his state murder trial.

Carro’s ruling comes with victories for both the prosecution and defense. On one hand, Carro ruled that the items examined at the station once Mangione was in custody, such as the gun and notebook, are admissible. He held that these were obtained as a part of a proper inventory search of the defendant’s belongings.

Prosecutors claim this evidence links Mangione to the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, a crime of which he has maintained his innocence throughout the tumultuous lead-up to trial. They claim Mangione can now be linked through both means and motive-the 3D-printed pistol in question allegedly matches the one used to kill Thompson. The notebook evidence also contains messages of his discontent with the healthcare system.

However, Carro held that some of the contents of Mangione’s backpack would be inadmissible at trial. He found that the search of Mangione’s backpack while at the McDonald’s was an “improper warrantless search” because the bag was in exclusive control of the police and there was no evidence at the time that showed it held any dangerous items, such as a bomb or gun.

Similarly, Mangione’s statements made at the McDonald’s prior to being placed into custody are inadmissible at trial. Once it was reasonably evident that he was being arrested, any statements Mangione made about his real name and identity are admissible as pedigree information.

Although Mangione was arrested in Pennsylvania, the court held that New York law governs the search and seizure guidelines, as New York is the state where the crime was committed and the trial will be held.

Both Mangione’s state and federal trials were postponed earlier this year, with the new start dates being in September and October of 2026, respectively. All contents of Mangione’s backpack will be admissible as evidence at the federal trial.

As federal judge Margaret Garnett dropped the charges of murder through the use of a firearm and firearms offenses against Mangione, he is now facing only stalking charges in the federal case. He is facing charges of murder in the second degree and multiple counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the state case.