Luigi Mangione, 28, pleaded guilty to the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, admitting in Manhattan federal court that he used a 3D-printed gun to carry out the killing. Mangione detailed his motivations and actions in a statement to the court, citing years of severe pain from a broken back and frustration with the health insurance system.
Mangione explained that he learned of UnitedHealthcare's annual investor conference in New York City scheduled for December 4, 2024. He researched the event, noting that it would be attended by company executives, the board, and investors, rather than medical professionals or patients. In November 2025, Mangione traveled from outside New York to Manhattan and emailed UnitedHealthcare leadership, posing as an investor managing over $50 billion in assets, to request information about the conference.
He stated that before traveling to New York, he used a 3D printer to create part of a gun, which he then equipped with a silencer and magazine. Mangione explicitly said his travel to New York and his email to UnitedHealthcare were with the intent to shoot Brian Thompson. On the morning of December 4, 2024, he shot Thompson in Manhattan, resulting in his death.
Mangione acknowledged his understanding that his actions would cause Thompson to fear death or serious bodily injury, and that he knew his actions were illegal. He described his plan as a response to years of enduring severe pain and navigating the obstacles of the health insurance system, as well as witnessing similar experiences of others.