Luigi Mangione admits killing insurance CEO, pleads guilty in federal case
Thompson's widow sat in the front row with other members of his family. She became emotional when Mangione admitted to shooting Thompson, while two women seated beside her comforted her
Luigi Mangione admitted in court on Friday that he fatally shot UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson and pleaded guilty to two federal charges of stalking the health insurance executive with the intent to kill him.
"I shot Mr. Thompson in Manhattan and he died," Mangione said. He wore beige prison garb and spoke clearly and calmly as he read from a prepared statement that included criticism of the US health insurance system.
Thompson's widow sat in the front row with other members of his family. She became emotional when Mangione admitted to shooting Thompson, while two women seated beside her comforted her.
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The guilty plea will avert a federal trial in the closely watched case over the killing of the 50-year-old executive, a crime that was condemned by public officials but also became a focal point for some Americans' frustrations with health insurance industry practices.
Mangione, 28, entered his plea without an agreement with federal prosecutors. Prosecutors said they would seek life in prison, the maximum allowable sentence, at his sentencing on December 18.
US District Judge Margaret Garnett can consider Mangione's decision to plead guilty as a mitigating factor when determining his sentence. Each of the federal counts carries a possible life sentence.
Thompson's family said the plea marked an "important step toward justice."
"We look to the court to ensure that sentencing reflects the severity of this crime," Thompson's family said.
Jamie McDonald, the Manhattan US Attorney, said his office had made no accommodations or concessions to Mangione.
"No grievance or ideological cause can ever justify murder," McDonald told reporters.
Mangione describes insurance dispute
Thompson led UnitedHealth Group's insurance unit before he was shot dead in the early morning of December 4, 2024, outside a hotel where an investor conference was taking place.
Mangione said in his courtroom statement that he had faced obstacles with his insurance after suffering a broken back, without providing details.
He said he emailed UnitedHealthcare leadership seeking information about its 2024 investor conference while pretending to be an investor managing more than $50 billion in assets. He said he received a response within an hour, which he described as quicker than previous interactions with insurers.
"I observed that the annual conference of America's largest health care organization with the stated mission to make the health system work better for everyone would be attended by company executives, the board of directors, and hundreds of investors - not doctors, nurses and patients," Mangione said.
Mangione said he then used a 3-D printer to make part of a gun and travelled to New York with the intention of killing Thompson.
UnitedHealth Group said in a statement, "We are grateful to law enforcement for bringing Brian's murderer to justice."
The killing and a five-day manhunt for a suspect attracted extensive media and social media attention. Mangione was arrested in Pennsylvania.
Mangione seeks to dismiss state case
Mangione had previously pleaded not guilty in April 2025 to federal murder, weapons and stalking charges.
Garnett threw out the murder and weapons charges in January 2026 over legal technicalities in a surprise ruling. The decision eliminated the possibility that Mangione would face the death penalty in the federal case.
Mangione separately pleaded not guilty in December 2024 to state terrorism, murder, weapons and forgery charges brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. A judge dismissed the terrorism charges in September 2025.
A trial in the state case is scheduled for September 8 before Justice Gregory Carro in Manhattan. Mangione would face 25 years to life in prison if convicted of second-degree murder.
Following the federal plea, Mangione's lawyers filed a motion seeking dismissal of the state murder and weapons charges, arguing that continuing with the state case would violate New York's double jeopardy protections and his due process rights under the Fifth Amendment to the US Constitution.
New York's double jeopardy law has exceptions for crimes that contain different elements or are intended to prevent "very different kinds of harm or evil."
The stalking charges have different elements from murder but still require intent to kill, which could make it difficult for state prosecutors to argue that the trial should proceed, said Catherine Christian, a defence lawyer and former Manhattan prosecutor.
"Prosecutors will say it's a different statute, but the defense will argue it's about intending to kill and killing someone - that's what our client pled led to, and it's splitting hairs to say they're different," Christian said.
Bragg's office could oppose the motion. A spokesperson for Bragg said in a statement, "We are prepared to litigate the defense motions. The Manhattan D.A.'s Office remains committed to seeking justice for Mr. Thompson and his family."
