Luigi Mangione confessed in court on Friday to fatally shooting Brian Thompson, a health insurance executive, and pleaded guilty to two federal charges of stalking the CEO with the intention of killing him.
Wearing beige prison attire, Mangione calmly acknowledged, “I shot Mr. Thompson in Manhattan, and he died,” as he delivered a prepared statement criticizing the U.S. health insurance system.
In the courtroom gallery, Thompson’s widow sat with other family members. Her emotions surfaced when Mangione admitted to the shooting, and two women by her side offered comfort.
The guilty plea eliminates the need for a federal trial in the widely followed case involving the murder of the 50-year-old UnitedHealthcare CEO, a shocking act that drew public condemnation and highlighted American frustrations with health insurance industry practices.
At the age of 28, Mangione entered his plea without a plea agreement with federal prosecutors, leaving no assurance that accepting responsibility would lead to a reduced sentence. Prosecutors indicated their intent to seek the maximum penalty of life imprisonment at the sentencing scheduled for Dec. 18.
U.S. District Judge Margaret Garnett has the discretion to consider Mangione’s guilty plea as a mitigating factor in determining his sentence. Additionally, the federal guilty plea enabled Mangione’s attorneys to file a motion to dismiss separate state charges of murder and weapons possession, citing New York’s prohibition of double jeopardy.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald emphasized that no special treatment or concessions were extended to Mangione, asserting, “No grievance or ideological cause can ever justify murder.”
In a statement, Thompson’s family underscored the significance of the plea as a crucial step towards justice and urged the court to ensure that the sentencing reflects the gravity of the crime.
Brian Thompson, who led UnitedHealth Group’s insurance division in Minnesota, was fatally shot on Dec. 4, 2024, outside a hotel hosting an investor conference. The case garnered significant media attention due to the graphic nature of the incident and the subsequent manhunt that led to Mangione’s arrest in Pennsylvania.
During his courtroom statement, Mangione mentioned encountering obstacles with his insurance after sustaining a back injury, without providing specific details. He described how he impersonated an investor managing over $50 billion in assets to obtain information about UnitedHealthcare’s investor conference in 2024.
Mangione acknowledged using a 3D printer to create a component of a firearm and traveling to New York with the intention of killing Thompson. UnitedHealth Group expressed gratitude to law enforcement for apprehending Thompson’s killer.
Having previously pleaded not guilty to federal murder, weapons, and stalking charges in April 2025, Mangione saw the murder and weapons charges dismissed due to legal technicalities in January 2026. He is also facing state charges of terrorism, murder, weapons possession, and forgery brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, with a trial scheduled for September 8.
Mangione’s legal team sought to dismiss the state case under New York’s double jeopardy law, arguing that another trial would violate his constitutional rights. Prosecutors may contest this motion, emphasizing their commitment to seeking justice for Thompson and his family.
New York’s double jeopardy law contains exceptions for crimes with varying elements or aimed at preventing distinct types of harm. The stalking charges, while distinct from murder, require an intent to kill, potentially complicating the prosecution’s argument for proceeding with the trial, according to legal experts.