Luigi Mangione confesses to the murder of the UnitedHealthcare CEO and enters a guilty plea to federal charges
Luigi Mangione confessed to the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson and entered a guilty plea for federal stalking charges, which could result in a life sentence.
Luigi Mangione has confessed to the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson and has entered a guilty plea to two federal charges related to stalking the executive with the intent to kill.
Mangione, 28, pled guilty on Friday in a high-profile federal court case concerning the December 2024 murder.
“I shot Mr. Thompson in Manhattan, and he died,” Mangione told the court, his voice steady as he read from a prepared statement.
He wore beige prison attire as he accepted responsibility for the shooting and expressed criticism of the US health insurance system.
The guilty plea indicates that Mangione will avoid a federal trial concerning Thompson’s killing. However, he still faces distinct state charges, including murder, weapons, and forgery offenses.
US District Judge Margaret Garnett informed Mangione that he could face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment for each of the two federal counts. She set the date for his sentencing on December 18.
Manhattan US Attorney Jamie McDonald announced that prosecutors intend to pursue a life sentence.
Thompson, who headed UnitedHealth Group’s insurance division, was fatally shot on December 4, 2024, outside a Manhattan hotel hosting an investor conference.
The killing drew significant attention, accompanied by public condemnation, as Mangione’s case became linked to a larger wave of public outrage regarding the US health insurance industry and the issues surrounding the cost and accessibility of healthcare.
After Mangione’s federal plea, his attorney submitted a motion to dismiss the separate state charges based on New York’s double jeopardy law, which typically safeguards defendants from facing prosecution twice for the same actions.
The state case is set to go to trial on September 8.
Thompson’s family expressed their approval of Mangione’s guilty plea, calling it an “important step toward justice.”
“We expect the court to ensure that the sentencing corresponds to the seriousness of this crime,” the family stated.
