Luigi Mangione pleads guilty to federal stalking charges in Brian Thompson death

According to prosecutors, Luigi Mangione pleaded guilty in a Manhattan federal court to stalking charges in connection with the death of Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealthcare. Mangione claimed he shot Thompson outside a Manhattan hotel on December 4, 2024, as Thompson walked to the annual investor conference. The judge accepted Mangione's guilty plea, with sentencing set for December.

Mangione faces a potential life sentence without parole on the two stalking charges. The murder and weapons counts were dismissed by the judge due to legal technicalities, leaving only stalking charges and eliminating the possibility of the death penalty. Mangione's lawyer stated that the state charges must be dismissed under New York's double jeopardy protections, as defendants cannot be prosecuted for the same crime twice.

Thompson's family expressed that the plea marks an important step toward justice and urged the court to ensure the sentence reflects the severity of the crime.