A New York judge on Tuesday dismissed the top terrorism-related counts in the state case against Luigi Mangione, ruling that the accused killer could not be charged under state terrorism enhancements — a decision that prosecutors said was a substantial setback.
In a written ruling released Sept. 16, Judge Gregory Carro dismissed charges that alleged murder in the first degree as an act of terrorism and murder in the second degree as a crime of terrorism. Carro left intact a second-degree murder charge that carries a term of 25 years to life in prison under state law, but not the 25 years to life without the possibility of parole that prosecutors had sought through the terrorism enhancements.
Mangione, 27, an Ivy League graduate, is accused of fatally shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside a midtown Manhattan hotel. Surveillance footage of the shooting was circulated in media reports. The ruling does not affect separate federal charges against Mangione, which prosecutors say could carry the death penalty.
Prosecutors had pursued the terrorism enhancements under state law, arguing that the alleged killing met the statutory definition of an act of terrorism and warranted a more severe sentencing range. Judge Carro’s decision rejected that legal theory for the state counts, removing the special terrorism labels from the state indictment.
Supporters of Mangione gathered outside the Manhattan courthouse on Tuesday, holding signs and speaking in solidarity, while court officials and prosecutors prepared for the next steps in both the state and federal proceedings. The remaining state charge still exposes Mangione to decades in prison if he is convicted.
The case now proceeds on the surviving state murder count while federal authorities continue to pursue their separate indictment. Federal prosecutors have charged Mangione on counts that, if proven, could lead to capital punishment, and those proceedings remain on a distinct track from the state case.
Legal analysts said the division between state and federal charges is not uncommon in high-profile killings, where different statutes and potential penalties can apply. The state ruling narrows the scope of the state prosecution but leaves intact significant criminal exposure for Mangione.
Court schedules and filings in the coming weeks are expected to reflect the narrowed state case and ongoing federal activity. Defense and prosecution attorneys did not immediately comment publicly following the ruling. Media outlets and court observers noted the presence of both supporters and onlookers outside the courthouse after the decision.
The dismissal of the terrorism enhancements marks a significant procedural development for the Manhattan district attorney’s office, which had relied on those counts to seek the most severe state-level sentence. The surviving second-degree murder charge keeps the state prosecution viable, but the maximum state penalty is now the standard 25 years to life rather than life without parole under the eliminated terrorism specifications.
Federal authorities have not suspended their separate case, and any eventual trial dates, plea discussions or pretrial motions will proceed under the respective rules and timelines of federal court. The dual-track nature of the prosecutions means that outcomes in one forum may not directly determine the course in the other.
The case remains subject to further rulings and potential appeals as both sides prepare for additional hearings and possible trial proceedings.