Luigi Mangione, 28, admitted in federal court on Friday to fatally shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, 50, in New York City on December 4, 2024. Mangione pleaded guilty to one count of interstate stalking resulting in death and one count of stalking through the use of interstate facilities resulting in death, confessing that severe back pain and perceived injustices within the American healthcare system drove him to commit the act. "After years of enduring severe pain from a broken back, navigating the obstacles of the health insurance system and witnessing similar experiences of countless others, I learned that UnitedHealthcare would be holding its annual investor conference in New York City on December 4, 2024," Mangione stated in court. He also detailed how he traveled from outside New York, posed as an investor via email to UnitedHealthcare, and used a 3-D printer to create part of the firearm used in the attack, which he equipped with a silencer and magazine. "My travel to New York and email to UnitedHealthcare was with the intent to shoot Brian Thompson," he added.
Friends of Mangione have spoken out in support of him following his guilty plea, with some expressing shock but also continued care for the 28-year-old. RJ Martin, a friend and former landlord, told Rolling Stone that "Luigi is a human being with a circle of longtime friends who know who he is, stay in touch, and care about him deeply." Martin also suggested that the government's portrayal of Mangione since his arrest would have made a fair trial difficult. Another friend, identified only as RK, called Thompson's murder "unacceptable and deeply sad" but expressed hope that Mangione's plea would not silence discussions about healthcare system inequities.
Thompson's family, who came face-to-face with Mangione for the first time at the hearing, issued a statement calling for a strong punishment. "Today's 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. They expressed their anticipation for further proceedings in New York and Pennsylvania to seek the justice Thompson deserves.
Mangione's federal sentencing hearing is scheduled for December 18. While no formal plea deal is in place, the judge indicated that federal sentencing guidelines suggest a sentence of approximately 24 to 30 years, though she is not bound by this range. Federal prosecutors have stated they will seek the maximum sentence. Mangione's state murder trial, originally scheduled for September 8, has been postponed to December 10, as his legal team has filed a motion to dismiss the state charges, citing New York's double jeopardy laws. Mangione's lawyer argued that he has been "unfairly treated" and faces prosecution in two jurisdictions for the same conduct.