Luigi Mangione pleads guilty in federal case, admits shooting Brian Thompson

On Friday morning in Manhattan, Luigi Mangione entered a guilty plea in his federal case, admitting to shooting and killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside a Midtown hotel in 2024. The 28-year-old faces a maximum sentence of life in prison, with sentencing scheduled for December 18. If convicted, Mangione would serve 85% of his sentence without the possibility of parole, as there is no parole in the federal system.

Mangione's defense team has filed for state charges to be dismissed under New York's double jeopardy law, claiming the multiple prosecutions violate the statute. The Manhattan District Attorney's office, however, is prepared to fight their move for dismissal, stating they remain committed to seeking justice for Mr. Thompson and his family.

Thompson's family arrived at the courtroom, and Mangione entered wearing tan prison clothing with a white T-shirt underneath, his feet shackled and hands behind his back. Despite facing four federal charges initially, two charges, including a potential death penalty, were dismissed earlier this year. The remaining charges against him are federal stalking charges, which carry a potential life sentence without parole.

During the plea hearing, Mangione detailed his actions leading up to the shooting, including his intention to use the gun to kill a healthcare executive. Prosecutors presented evidence such as video footage of the shooting and recovered items from the crime scene to support their case. Mangione's attorney, Karen Friedman Agnifilo, expressed her concerns about the unfair treatment her client has faced since the incident, arguing that Mangione has successfully fought off terrorism charges and the death penalty while also fighting two simultaneous prosecutions in two jurisdictions.