Admitted killer Luigi Mangione revealed Friday that he posed as a United Healthcare investor to track down and assassinate CEO Brian Thompson as part of a meticulously planned revenge scheme. Mangione, 28, pleaded guilty to federal stalking charges in Manhattan federal court, detailing how he executed the plot in December 2024.
Mangione stated that his motivation stemmed from being "disgruntled by the nation’s health insurance industry" and experiencing severe pain from a broken back, compounded by difficulties navigating the healthcare system. He learned that UnitedHealthcare was holding its annual investor conference in New York City and saw an opportunity.
"Before traveling to New York, I used a 3D printer to make a gun. I equipped the gun with a silencer and a magazine," Mangione told the court. "I traveled to New York to UnitedHealth with the intent to shoot Brian Thompson."
He traveled to Manhattan in November 2024 but initially did not know the specific location of the conference. To obtain this information, Mangione emailed United Healthcare leadership, posing as an investor from a firm managing $50 billion in assets, and requested details about the upcoming conference. He noted that, unlike previous interactions with insurers, he received a response within an hour.
Using the information gained from the email, Mangione located the conference venue. On December 4, 2024, he fatally shot Thompson outside the New York Hilton Midtown as the CEO arrived to attend the event. "I shot Mr. Thompson in Manhattan and he died," Mangione confessed. "When I did so, I understood that my actions would place him in fear of death or serious bodily injury."
Thompson, 50, was the chief executive officer of UnitedHealthcare. His wife, Paulette Thompson, was present in court and sobbed during Mangione's statement.
Mangione's guilty plea to two federal stalking charges carries a maximum penalty of life in prison.