The jurors in the New York state murder trial of Luigi Mangione will be kept anonymous, the judge presiding over the case said.
The trial, including jury selection, is slated to start on Sept. 8, according to New York court records.
Mr. Mangione, who is also facing federal charges in the shooting, is accused of shooting and killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on Dec. 4, 2024.
Judge Gregory Carro said in an order that “given the extraordinary public attention and the documented instances of threatening or hostile behavior by individuals outside the courthouse, the court finds that disclosure of juror names to the public poses an unjustifiable risk of interference with the administration of justice,” according to ABC News.
Mr. Carro also said that supporters of Mr. Mangione “engaged in inflammatory and hostile public statements outside the courthouse and announced their intention to attend jury selection to attempt to speak to prospective jurors,” according to ABC News.
Mr. Mangione is facing state charges of second degree murder, possession of a forged instrument and possession of an illegal weapon, according to Bloomberg.
The killing of Thompson and Mr. Mangione’s manifesto, which called healthcare companies “parasites,” have garnered support from some sections of the public.
Police have said Mr. Mangione wrote the words “delay,” “deny” and “depose” on ammunition used in the attack. The words reference a phrase used by health-insurance critics to describe how companies avoid paying claims, according to The Associated Press.
Mr. Mangione previously wrote a letter thanking his supporters on a website dedicated to his defense, and a fundraiser for his defense raked in $450,000 in just two months. A bar in the District of Columbia also hosted an event in February so that participants could write love letters to Mr. Mangione.
