Luigi Mangione Stuns Court: ‘I Shot Mr. Thompson, And He Died’ During Federal Hearing

NEW YORK, NY. (THECOUNT) — Luigi Mangione pleaded guilty Friday to two federal stalking charges stemming from the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, bringing the federal prosecution to an abrupt end while leaving Mangione’s separate New York state murder case facing a major legal challenge.

Mangione admitted in Manhattan federal court that he tracked Thompson to a UnitedHealthcare investor conference in New York City before shooting him in December 2024. He told the judge, “After years of enduring pain from a broken back, I shot Mr. Thompson, and he died. I knew what I was doing was illegal.”

New York City is the nation’s largest city and a major financial center, where Thompson was fatally shot as he arrived for the UnitedHealthcare conference. The killing triggered a nationwide manhunt and became one of the most closely watched criminal cases in the country.

During Friday’s hearing, Mangione said he had researched the conference and posed as an investor to obtain information about the people attending. He acknowledged that he ultimately located Thompson and carried out the shooting.

Mangione also admitted using a firearm he manufactured with a 3-D printer and said he attached a silencer to the weapon. His statements in court provided prosecutors with a detailed account of his actions leading up to Thompson’s death.

Mangione pleaded guilty to interstate stalking resulting in death and stalking through the use of interstate facilities resulting in death. The charges are part of the federal case brought against him following Thompson’s killing.

U.S. District Judge Margaret Garnett accepted the guilty pleas and scheduled Mangione’s federal sentencing for Dec. 18. The judge indicated that federal sentencing guidelines call for a substantial prison term, although the final sentence remains within the court’s discretion.

There was no negotiated plea agreement with the government. Instead, Mangione entered guilty pleas to the two charges and will now ask the court to consider circumstances surrounding the killing when determining his sentence.

Mangione’s attorney, Karen Friedman Agnifilo, has indicated that his physical pain, his views regarding the health care and insurance systems, and his mental state could become significant factors during sentencing.

Thompson’s family was present in court for the plea. Afterward, the family said it was pleased Mangione had been held accountable for what it described as a heinous act and said it now wants the court to impose a sentence reflecting the seriousness of Thompson’s killing.

The federal guilty plea does not automatically resolve the separate murder prosecution against Mangione in New York state court. He previously pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder and weapons charges in that case.

Mangione’s attorneys moved Friday to have the state prosecution dismissed, arguing that continuing to prosecute him for Thompson’s killing after the federal conviction would violate constitutional protections against double jeopardy.

The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office has indicated that it intends to continue pursuing the state case. Prosecutors said they remain prepared to litigate the defense motions and seek accountability for Thompson’s death.

The state prosecution could therefore become the next major legal battle in the case. Mangione’s attorneys could also seek to use an extreme emotional disturbance defense in the state proceedings if the case is allowed to continue.

Mangione’s state trial had been scheduled to begin Sept. 8. The federal plea now places that proceeding in question, with the state court expected to consider the defense’s request for dismissal before the scheduled trial.

Thompson was fatally shot in Manhattan on Dec. 4, 2024. Mangione was arrested days later in Pennsylvania following a nationwide search. His arrest and the circumstances surrounding the killing generated intense national attention, including debate surrounding the American health care system and the grievances Mangione allegedly held against it.

For the federal case, however, the issue of guilt has now been resolved. Mangione has admitted responsibility for the conduct underlying the two federal charges, and the remaining federal proceeding will focus on sentencing.

The next major development is expected to come from the New York state case, where the court must determine whether Mangione’s double-jeopardy argument can prevent prosecutors from proceeding with the separate murder charges.

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