'I shot Mr Thompson'- What it was like inside court as Mangione pleaded guilty
It marked the first time a court had heard Mangione describe how he committed a crime that garnered worldwide attention.
On Friday, Luigi Mangione appeared in a federal courtroom in New York, more than a year and a half after the shooting death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in December 2024. The 28-year-old, accused of the murder, appeared in a beige prison uniform with a white T-shirt underneath, his feet shackled but not handcuffed. His family members, along with reporters and court staff, filled the packed courtroom as the hearing commenced later than scheduled.
Mangione's lawyer, Karen Friedman Agnifilo, informed the judge that Mr. Mangione was prepared to plead guilty. The judge then asked Mangione a series of questions to confirm his understanding of the consequences, including the possibility of life in prison. When asked if he understood the potential penalty, Mangione responded, "yes."
After addressing the court, Mangione appeared to stumble over his words as he read his statement, admitting to killing Thompson. The judge then inquired about his plea, to which Mangione replied, "Guilty." The Thompson family expressed their relief and hope for justice in a statement following the hearing. Mangione is set to be sentenced on December 18, with a recommended sentence of 24-30 years in prison by prosecutors.
Written by urgent.news from BBC News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
