Luigi Mangione, 28, pleaded guilty Friday to federal stalking charges in connection with the December 2024 murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. The plea occurred during an emergency federal court hearing in Manhattan.
Mangione faces a maximum sentence of life in prison for stalking Thompson prior to his death. Prosecutors allege Mangione was the hooded individual seen on surveillance video approaching Thompson from behind and shooting him outside a Manhattan Hilton hotel on Dec. 4, 2024. Mangione explicitly told the judge that he traveled to New York with the intention of shooting Thompson, stating, "I knew what I was doing."
During the hearing, Mangione explained that he learned UnitedHealthcare was holding an investor's conference and called the company directly to gather information about its location. "On the morning of Dec. 4, 2024, I shot Mr. Thompson in Manhattan," Mangione told the court. He also acknowledged understanding the maximum sentence he could receive.
Federal prosecutors presented evidence including surveillance footage that they say shows Mangione arriving in New York, following Thompson on the morning of the murder, and the shooting itself. The video depicts a hooded gunman shooting Thompson in the back as he fell, then again as he turned. The suspect was then seen fleeing the scene on a bicycle. Investigators recovered Mangione's DNA and fingerprints near the crime scene, found what they believe to be the murder weapon in his backpack upon arrest, and possess cellphone evidence and an eyewitness account.
Mangione's defense team may attempt to leverage this federal guilty plea to raise a double jeopardy claim ahead of his state-level murder trial. It remains unclear if such a claim would be successful.
UnitedHealth Group released a statement expressing gratitude to law enforcement for bringing Thompson's murderer to justice and offering condolences to his family. Thompson's family also issued a statement, calling the plea an important step toward justice and expressing hope that sentencing will reflect the severity of the crime, while acknowledging ongoing proceedings in New York and Pennsylvania.
In addition to the charges related to Thompson's death, Mangione faces other charges, including firearms offenses and carrying a forged ID in both New York and Pennsylvania. A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for Dec. 18.