Luigi Mangione, 28, pleaded guilty Friday to federal stalking charges, admitting he killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in December 2024.
Mangione’s confession came during a court hearing where he stated, "On the morning of December 4, 2024, I shot Mr. Thompson in Manhattan, and he died." He also acknowledged that his actions were intended to cause fear of death or serious bodily injury and were illegal.
The Manhattan US Attorney's Office announced it will recommend a life sentence for Mangione. "Mangione attempted to send a public message through violence," said Jamie McDonald, head of the Southern District of New York, at a press conference. "But the message that emerges today is very different: violence is not a legitimate instrument to promote any political or social message."
Bruce Thompson, the uncle of the slain CEO, expressed hope that Mangione would receive the maximum penalty. "I hope he gets what he deserves," Bruce Thompson told The Times of London. "We’ll see what December 18 brings — we hope he gets the max." He added that the family found out about the plea deal days prior and that witnessing the confession was an "overwhelming" experience.
Brian Thompson, 50, was the father of two and had been CEO of UnitedHealthcare since April 2021. His family released a statement acknowledging the guilty plea as a significant step toward justice, while emphasizing that further proceedings in New York and Pennsylvania are still pending.
Mangione's defense attorney, Karen Friedman Agnifilo, has filed a motion to dismiss the state case on the grounds of double jeopardy, arguing that Mangione should not be tried twice for the same actions. However, the Manhattan District Attorney's office stated its commitment to pursuing the state trial, asserting readiness to litigate the defense's motions. Any state sentence could be served consecutively to a federal sentence, with Mangione facing potential life imprisonment on state charges as well.