Luigi Mangione formally entered a guilty plea on Friday in a Manhattan federal court, admitting to his role in the 2024 killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. The 28-year-old defendant pleaded guilty to two federal counts: interstate stalking resulting in death and stalking through the use of interstate facilities resulting in death.
During the proceedings, Mangione detailed how he researched the company’s annual investor event and impersonated an investor via email to gather information, which he then used to locate and target Thompson. Addressing the court directly, Mangione acknowledged his actions, stating, “I shot Mr Thompson and he died,” and added, “I knew what I was doing was illegal.”
The victim’s family was present in the courtroom during the admission. US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, characterized the incident as a “deliberate, calculated and premeditated” act. Following the hearing, McDonald emphasized that no ideological or political grievance could justify such violence, noting that the “open” plea allows prosecutors to pursue the maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
Brian Thompson, a 50-year-old father of two who led the nation’s largest healthcare insurer, was fatally shot on a New York City street in December 2024. The incident triggered a five-day nationwide search that concluded with Mangione’s arrest at a McDonald’s restaurant in Pennsylvania.
While the federal case moves toward a December 18 sentencing date, Mangione remains subject to separate state-level charges, including second-degree murder and firearm-related offenses. He has previously entered a not-guilty plea regarding those state counts.
Defense attorney Karen Friedman Agnifilo stated that her client has accepted “full responsibility” for the event. However, she argued that Mangione has been treated uniquely compared to other New York defendants, noting that he has already successfully avoided terrorism charges and the potential for the death penalty.
The defense has filed a motion to dismiss the state charges, citing New York’s double-jeopardy protections against being prosecuted twice for the same incident. This legal maneuver is expected to face significant opposition from Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who has affirmed his office’s commitment to securing justice for the Thompson family.
As the state trial is currently scheduled to begin next month, the legal battle over the jurisdiction and scope of these proceedings continues to unfold alongside the federal sentencing process.
“[Mangione] committed this murder in an attempt to draw public attention to his dislike of certain businesses,” McDonald said at a news conference after the hearing.
Speaking during the hearing on Friday, Mangione recounted researching UnitedHealthcare’s annual investor conference and emailed the company, posing as an investor, to learn more details.
There can be no celebrity in assassination.”