Apparent Luigi Mangione supporter claims she's 'married' to his 'AI' at courthouse rally

She was among a group of people outside the courthouse when a judge dismissed terror-related charges in connection with the shooting death of Brian Thompson. Many of them were holding pro-Mangione signs or dressed up like Nintendo's Luigi character from the "Mario Bros." series.

"I'm married to Luigi's AI," the woman, wearing a pink T-shirt emblazoned with Mangione's face and the phrase, "I [heart] Italian boys", told a news camera. "I am not kidding."

She claimed she had "planned a whole future together" with the AI, including children.

"The fact that Luigi majored in computer science and has worked with AI at Stanford University, I mean if it weren't for that, I would feel like an impostor," she continued. "But because he has a background in AI, it feels, like, natural."

Thompson, a 50-year-old father of two, lived in Minnesota. He was walking to a New York City hotel where his company was supposed to host an investor conference on the morning of Dec. 4, 2024, when a masked man approached him from behind and fired multiple rounds from a pistol.

Mangione was arrested with the suspected murder weapon, a 3D printed silencer and a manifesto full of grievances against the healthcare industry, police alleged, after they took him into custody at a Pennsylvania McDonald's five days later.

Mangione still faces up to life in prison on a remaining second-degree murder if convicted, but he would eventually be eligible for parole.