Luigi Mangione could be facing an uphill legal battle as a suspect in the shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson due to the mounting evidence against him, according to a Baltimore attorney with ties to the family.

A retrieved firearm and alleged manifesto contribute to what criminal defense attorney Tomas J. Maronick describes as “very strong” evidence against Mangione.

Maronick, who runs the Baltimore firm Maronick Law LLC, hosted the "Tom Moore Show," a weekend politics, legal issues and entertainment program, for the Mangione family-owned WCBM-AM radio station for 20 years from 2003 until 2023.

During that time, Maronick knew several members of the family, including patriarch Nick Mangione Sr., and Maryland delegate Nino Mangione, who was the web content director at the time. While Maronick does not recall if he met Luigi Mangione, he said he was shocked when he heard the news about the shooting.

“When I saw the name, and they said ‘Mangione,’ I said, ‘This can’t be,’” Maronick said. “’This can’t be the same family I worked with for 20 years.’ It turns out it was. I was shocked like anyone else. It’s the last family name you would suspect being associated with something like this.”

New York prosecutors have charged Mangione with one count of murder, two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, one count of second-degree possession of a forged document and one count of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon. He was denied bail during a court appearance Tuesday in Pennsylvania.

Mangione is also fighting extradition and will remain at Huntingdon State Correctional Institution until prosecutors obtain a governor’s warrant to take him back to New York to face charges.

Maronick acknowledged that Mangione faces a tough legal battle to be cleared of the charges. In addition, multiple reports surfaced Wednesday stating that Mangione’s fingerprints were found at the scene of the shooting.

“The evidence in this case looks very strong,” Maronick said. “You have a firearm that matches the kind that appears to have been used in the commission of the crime in his possession. You have a manifesto that appears to provide a motive for this. Then, you have a detachment from the family.”

Maronick expects that Mangione’s defense attorney might request a competency evaluation, which is mental health assessment to determine whether a criminal defendant is able to understand and participate in the legal process, after Mangione had an outburst while being led by police for an extradition hearing in Pennsylvania, yelling to reporters: “This is completely out of touch and an insult to the intelligence of the American people and their lived experience.”

Bradley S. Shepherd, a defense attorney with Posner & Cord LLC in Maryland, said this case has already been sensationalized in the media with a public investigation. The outburst only added to the controversy.

“The most basic piece of advice that any criminal defense attorney can give to a client or a prospective client is don’t say anything to the police or press or anyone,” Shepherd said.

University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law professor Doug Colbert does not think a competency hearing will be needed due to Mangione’s educational background and academic prowess. Colbert said Mangione likely understands the gravity of the case against him.

Another challenge facing both defense attorneys and prosecutors is finding an unbiased jury pool. The current state of the health care industry with increased prices and denied care has polarized society, underscored by the support of Mangione on social media.

“The jury pool is going to be one where you really ask questions about health care,” Maronick said. “You want to ask what people’s views are and if they have ever been denied a claim. What is their experience with health care companies? Do they have a favorable impression? Have they had bad experiences? Have they had claims denied? Both sides are going to want to have those questions asked.”

Shepherd is confident the system will find an effective jury. He noted that while the criminal trial of President-elect Donald Trump earlier this year was difficult to find able jurors and the selection lasted a week, the court was able to effectively complete the process.

“To my knowledge, in the history of United States jurisprudence, we have never failed to find 12 jurors who are fit for the job,” Shepherd said. “I’d be interested to read a book where that was not the case.”

The Mangione case has reached far beyond Maryland and is now an international story. Maronick has done interviews about the case with the BBC, which broadcasts across Europe. As a result, he said he doesn’t see any reason a judge would move the case from New York .

“I don’t think a motion to change venues is going to do much when it does get to New York because this is a national, and I would even say an international, case,” Maronick said. “It’s gotten so much publicity. I don’t think you would have a better or worse jury somewhere else. It’s been reported everywhere.”

However, according to Maronick, the crimes does not tarnish the reputation of the Mangione family.

“It’s such an esteemed, classy family,” Maronick said. “They are people who were not only incredibly supportive of my career at WCBM, but everyone else, with charity and how they donated money and have their name on the aquatic center at Loyola University Maryland.”

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