Luigi Mangione Pleads Guilty in UnitedHealthcare CEO Shooting Case
Luigi Mangione has pleaded guilty in federal court to charges linked to the shooting death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Manhattan.
The 28-year-old entered his guilty plea over the December 2024 killing, a case that attracted widespread attention across the United States and sparked renewed debate about the country’s healthcare system.
During his court appearance, Mangione admitted that he shot Thompson.
He told the court: “On the morning of December 4, I shot Mr. Thompson in Manhattan and he died.”
Mangione could face life in prison following his guilty plea. Federal prosecutors have said they will seek a life sentence at his sentencing, which is scheduled for December 18.
Defense Team Challenges State Charges
Following Mangione’s guilty plea in the federal case, his lawyers filed a motion in a New York state court asking for separate state murder charges against him to be dismissed.
His lawyers are relying on double jeopardy protections, arguing that Mangione should not face another prosecution over the same conduct.
His attorney, Karen Friedman Agnifilo, said the defence had filed the motion explaining why the state case should be dismissed under New York law.
The federal case and the state case are separate legal proceedings, and the defence is now asking the state court to end its case against Mangione.
Federal Death Penalty Charges Were Previously Dropped
Earlier in the year, a judge dismissed two federal charges that could have resulted in the death penalty.
Mangione’s latest guilty plea means the focus will now turn to sentencing and the separate legal battle over the state charges.
US Attorney Jamie McDonald also addressed the public attention surrounding the case, stressing the seriousness of the alleged crime.
“There can be no celebrity in assassination,” McDonald said during a news briefing.
Details About the Weapon
During the court proceedings, Mangione also admitted to making a firearm using a 3D printer.
According to details presented in court, the weapon was fitted with a magazine and a silencer.
Investigators had previously said Mangione travelled by bus from Atlanta to New York about 10 days before the shooting.
Authorities also alleged that he stayed at a Manhattan hostel using false identification and watched the area where Thompson was expected to attend an investor conference.
Mangione’s Arrest
After the shooting, police launched a nationwide search for Mangione.
He was eventually arrested on December 9 at a restaurant in Altoona, Pennsylvania.
The case quickly became one of the most closely watched criminal cases in the United States, attracting significant attention both online and in the media.
Mangione’s guilty plea has now brought the federal case closer to its conclusion, although his legal battle over the separate New York state charges is still continuing.
