NEW YORK — Luigi Mangione admitted to shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson as he pleaded guilty Friday to two federal stalking counts. Meanwhile, his attorneys have filed a motion to dismiss the state charges under New York’s double jeopardy law.
Mangione outlined his crime in federal court Friday, saying, “After years of enduring severe pain from a broken back … I learned UnitedHealth would be holding an investor conference in New York City.”
“I then researched the event online. I observed the annual conference of America’s largest healthcare organization with the stated mission to make the healthcare system better for everyone,” he said.
Mangione said he learned the exact location of UnitedHealthcare’s conference by emailing the company, posing as an investor with more than $50 million in capital.
“I traveled to New York and emailed UnitedHealthcare with the intent to kill Brian Thompson … I shot Mr. Thompson in the back,” he said, adding, “I knew what I was doing was illegal.”
Mangione pleaded guilty to both stalking counts and U.S. District Judge Margaret Garnett accepted the plea. His sentencing is set for Dec. 18.
As Mangione spoke, members of Thompson’s family, including his wife and mother, sat in the front row of the courtroom, marking the first time they appeared in court. Thompson’s wife appeared to be crying as the hearing began. Executives from UnitedHealthcare also attended.
Before Mangione admitted his guilt, Garnett asked Mangione if he understood that he’d give up his right to a trial if he pleaded guilty, and Mangione responded yes.
Garnett told Mangione a guilty plea would expose him to a possible life sentence.
“Do you understand that?” the judge asked, and Mangione replied, “yes.”
There is no plea agreement between Mangione and the federal government, the judge confirmed. Mangione affirmed he was promised nothing and was not threatened or coerced.
Prosecutors in court outlined what would have been evidence at trial, including footage of the shooting and Mangione fleeing the scene.
Thompson’s family said in a statement that the guilty plea “marks an important step toward justice for Brian and for our family.”
“While nothing will ease the pain of losing him, we are grateful that the federal justice system has held the person responsible for this heinous act accountable,” the family said. With more proceedings to come, the Thompsons added, “we will continue to seek the justice Brian deserves.”
The guilty plea could complicate Mangione’s murder prosecution in state court, where trial is scheduled to begin Sept. 8. His federal trial had been set for Jan. 5.
Mangione’s defense attorneys said Friday that they filed a motion in state court to dismiss the state charges under New York’s double jeopardy law.
“New York law does not permit a person to be prosecuted and punished twice for the exact same crime under a statute that governs successive prosecutions,” defense attorney Karen Friedman Agnifilo told reporters.
Mangione has “accepted full responsibility for the death of Brian Thompson,” she said, adding, “he’s being prosecuted twice for the same conduct.”
Mangione “endured years of severe, debilitating pain following a broken back, while struggling to navigate our healthcare and health insurance systems,” she said. “Like the thousands of people who have reached out since this tragedy to share their own experiences, he believed that the system had failed him and destroyed his life.”
The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office said earlier it was prepared to move forward with the state case, arguing stalking and murder address different harms.
UnitedHealthcare said in a statement Friday, “Brian Thompson’s life was cut short by an act of violence that devastated everyone who knew and loved him. We are grateful to law enforcement for bringing Brian’s murderer to justice, and our thoughts remain with Brian’s family and loved ones.”
Thompson was shot and killed on Dec. 4, 2024, in Midtown Manhattan, and Mangione was arrested in Pennsylvania after a five-day manhunt. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg announced that Mangione was indicted on first-degree murder charges on Dec. 17, 2024, and federal prosecutors announced separate charges of stalking and murder on Dec. 19, 2024. Mangione pleaded not guilty in the separate state and federal cases.
The charges in both cases narrowed over the last year. In the federal case, Garnett in January threw out the murder and firearm charges, leaving two counts: stalking — travel in interstate commerce and stalking — use of interstate facilities.
In the state case, Judge Gregory Carro last September dismissed the first-degree murder and terrorism charges. In the state case, Mangione is still charged with murder in the second-degree, criminal possession of a forged instrument in the second-degree, and multiple counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second-degree, third-degree and fourth-degree.
