Luigi Mangione pleads guilty in killing of UnitedHeathcare CEO. ‘I shot Mr. Thompson in Manhattan and he died’

On December 4, 2024, Luigi Mangione, 28, pleaded guilty in a federal court to the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Manhattan. Mangione claimed he shot Thompson in Manhattan and that he died. He admitted to posing as a potential investor to confirm the location of the company's investor conference, which allowed him to track Thompson's whereabouts.

Mangione never had a relationship with UnitedHealthcare. U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald stated that it was an open plea, and there was no deal with Mangione's defense. The state of New York is now facing a question about whether they can proceed with their scheduled murder trial for Thompson's death, which is set to commence the following month.

Mangione's defense argues that the dual prosecutions over a single tragic event violate his rights and claim that a coordinated effort between the Manhattan District Attorney's Office and the Justice Department led to the scheduling of the state case ahead of the federal one to bypass double jeopardy protections. Mangione is due to be sentenced on December 18, and if convicted, could face a maximum of life in prison.