Luigi Mangione pleaded responsible Friday in New York federal court docket to stalking that led to him killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on a midtown Manhattan road in December 2024.
Mangione’s attorneys instantly afterward filed a movement in New York state court docket saying that fees of homicide and different counts in that court docket for Thompson’s slaying needs to be tossed out below the state’s double jeopardy legislation.
Mangione stated Friday in Manhattan U.S. District Courtroom that he traveled to New York with the intention of killing Thompson after reaching out to UnitedHealthcare and pretending to be an investor forward of a convention at a Manhattan lodge.
“I shot Mr. Thompson in Manhattan, and he died,” Mangione stated, based on MS NOW. “I knew what I used to be doing was unlawful.”
Thompson’s firm, which is a division of UnitedHealth Group, is the most important supplier of medical insurance in the US.
Luigi Mangione seems at an proof suppression listening to at Manhattan Supreme Courtroom on Might 18, 2026 in New York Metropolis.
Jeenah Moon | Getty Photographs
Mangione, who stated in court docket that he was motivated after struggling years of ache from a damaged again, faces a most potential sentence of life in jail. Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 18.
Manhattan U.S. Lawyer Jamie McDonald stated he’ll search a sentence of life for the costs of interstate stalking leading to Thompson’s dying, and use of digital communications for the aim of stalking.
McDonald and Amanda Houle, chief of the workplace’s Prison Division, had been sitting within the entrance row of court docket subsequent to Thompson’s widow and household throughout Friday’s plea listening to, MS NOW reported. United Healthcare executives sat within the row behind them.
“In the present day’s responsible plea marks an vital step towards justice for Brian and for our household,” Thompson’s household stated in a press release. “Whereas nothing will ease the ache of shedding him, we’re grateful that the federal justice system has held the particular person liable for this heinous act accountable.”
“Now we glance to the court docket to make sure that sentencing displays the severity of this crime,” the household stated. “We stay conscious that further proceedings in New York and Pennsylvania are nonetheless to come back, and we’ll proceed to hunt the justice Brian deserves.”
Mangione’s plea got here weeks earlier than jury choice is scheduled to start out for his Manhattan Supreme Courtroom trial on a cost of murdering Thompson.
It’s not clear if that trial will occur, given protection attorneys’ new movement asking a choose to toss the state fees due to Friday’s plea in federal court docket.
Double jeopardy bars prosecuting a defendant twice for a similar conduct.
A spokeswoman for Manhattan District Lawyer Alvin Bragg, whose workplace is prosecuting Mangione in state court docket, stated in a press release the workplace would combat the trouble to dismiss the case.
“Since December 2024, the Manhattan D.A.’s Workplace has been tirelessly getting ready to pursue a trial conviction in New York State Supreme Courtroom for the alleged cold-blooded homicide of Brian Thompson,” the spokeswoman stated.
“We’re inspired that Mr. Thompson’s household acquired a measure of accountability immediately. Whereas federal sentencing is pending, we’re ready to litigate the protection motions,” the spokeswoman stated. “The Manhattan D.A.’s Workplace stays dedicated to searching for justice for Mr. Thompson and his household.”
UnitedHealth Group, in a press release after the plea listening to, stated, “Brian Thompson’s life was reduce brief by an act of violence that devastated everybody who knew and cherished him.”
“We’re grateful to legislation enforcement for bringing Brian’s assassin to justice, and our ideas stay with Brian’s household and family members throughout this troublesome time,” the corporate stated.
