Luigi Mangione has admitted to killing United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson after pleading guilty to federal charges of interstate stalking resulting in death. Mangione, 28, made the admission in Manhattan federal court on Friday, telling the court: “I shot Mr Thompson in Manhattan and he died. ”Thompson, 50, was shot from behind on 4 December 2024 as he walked into a hotel in midtown Manhattan.
He was a father of two. Mangione Describes Planned Attack During the hearing, Mangione said he had planned the attack in advance and travelled across state lines with the intention of killing Thompson. He told the court that he had experienced severe back pain and became frustrated with the healthcare system. He later learned that United Healthcare was due to hold its annual investor conference in Manhattan in December 2024.
Mangione said he travelled to New York for the event and contacted United Healthcare beforehand while posing as an investor. “I emailed United Healthcare with the intent to shoot Brian Thompson,” he told the court. He said he shot Thompson in the back on the morning of 4 December.
Mangione also admitted using a gun that he had produced with a 3D printer and equipped with a silencer and magazine. Could Face Life in Prison Mangione faces a maximum federal sentence of life imprisonment. Prosecutors have recommended a sentence of between 24 and 30 years, although Judge Margaret Garnett stressed that the recommendation is not binding.
Federal sentencing is scheduled for 18 December. There is no parole in the federal prison system. Following the guilty plea, Thompson’s family said it was an important step towards justice. “While nothing will ease the pain of losing him,” the family said, adding that they would continue seeking justice in the New York state and Pennsylvania cases.
State Case Remains Unresolved Mangione also faces eight criminal charges in New York, including second-degree murder, possession of a forged instrument and six weapons charges. His state trial had been scheduled to begin in September. Mangione’s lawyers are now seeking to have the state case dismissed, arguing that continuing the prosecution could violate constitutional protections against being prosecuted twice for the same crime.
His lawyer, Karen Friedman Agnifilo, said Mangione had accepted “full responsibility” for Thompson’s death through his federal guilty plea. However, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office said it remains prepared to pursue the state prosecution and will challenge the defence motions.
