Mangione admits killing healthcare CEO and pleads guilty to federal charges
"I shot Mr Thompson in Manhattan and he died," the 28-year-old said after pleading guilty to charges of stalking resulting in death.
Luigi Mangione has confessed to the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, entering a guilty plea to federal charges of interstate stalking that resulted in death.
"I shot Mr Thompson in Manhattan and he died," the 28-year-old stated in Manhattan federal court on Friday.
Thompson, a 50-year-old father of two, was fatally shot from behind on December 4, 2024, as he entered a hotel in midtown Manhattan. Following the plea hearing, his family released a statement, calling it "an important step toward justice for Brian and for our family."
Mangione faces a potential life sentence. He also faces state charges, though his legal team is attempting to have these dismissed in light of his federal guilty plea.
Initially, Mangione had pleaded not guilty in both the federal and state cases concerning Thompson's shooting death.
During a hearing in Manhattan federal court on Friday, Mangione's attorneys announced his intention to plead guilty to the two federal charges against him.
Dressed in a beige prison uniform, Mangione maintained a somber and serious demeanor throughout the proceedings.
Reading a statement aloud to the court, he admitted to pre-planning the attack, crossing state lines with the intent to kill, and using a gun he produced with a 3-D printer, subsequently outfitting it with a silencer and magazine.
He informed the court that his motive for killing Thompson stemmed from his negative experiences with the healthcare system "after years of enduring severe pains from a broken back."
Mangione stated that he learned UnitedHealthcare would host an annual investor conference in Manhattan in December 2024.
He then traveled to New York for the event, he told the court.
He also mentioned emailing UnitedHealthcare before the conference, "posing as an investor" and inquiring about the event.
"I emailed UnitedHealthcare with the intent to shoot Brian Thompson," Mangione declared in his statement. "On the morning of Dec. 4, 2024 I shot Mr. Thompson in Manhattan in his back."
Sentencing for the federal charges is scheduled for December 18.
Brian Thompson's family, in a statement, affirmed their continued pursuit of justice in both New York state and Pennsylvania, where Mangione was apprehended.
"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."
"Now we look to the court to ensure that sentencing reflects the severity of this crime," the family added.
Mangione's guilty plea could now complicate his New York state case.
With the trial set to begin in September, he faces eight state charges, including second-degree murder, possession of a forged instrument (for an alleged fake driver's license), and six counts of criminal possession of a weapon.
On the courthouse steps on Friday, his lawyers argued that because he has already pleaded guilty to federal charges, the state case violates double jeopardy—a constitutional protection preventing an individual from being prosecuted twice for the same crime.
"New York law does not permit a person to be prosecuted and punished twice for the exact same crime," his lawyer Karen Friedman Agnifilo stated.
Friedman Agnifilo also asserted that, by pleading guilty in federal court, Mangione has accepted "full responsibility" for Brian Thompson's death.
However, the Manhattan District Attorney's office has indicated its readiness to proceed with the state prosecution.
"We are encouraged that Mr Thompson's family received a measure of accountability today," the statement read. "While federal sentencing is pending, we are prepared to litigate the defense motions. The Manhattan DA's Office remains committed to seeking justice for Mr Thompson and his family."