Luigi Mangione, 28, pleaded guilty on Friday in Manhattan federal court to two charges of interstate stalking resulting in death, admitting he fatally shot UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in December 2024.
In a statement read aloud in court, Mangione said, "I shot Mr Thompson in Manhattan and he died." He detailed planning the attack, crossing state lines with intent to kill, and using a 3D-printed gun equipped with a silencer and magazine.
Thompson, a 50-year-old father of two, was shot from behind on December 4, 2024, as he walked into a hotel in midtown Manhattan. Mangione said he was motivated by his own painful experiences with the healthcare system after years of suffering from a broken back.
He also told the court he emailed UnitedHealthcare before the conference, posing as an investor, and traveled to New York for the event. "I emailed UnitedHealthcare with the intent to shoot Brian Thompson," he said.
Mangione had initially pleaded not guilty in both federal and state cases. His lawyers are now seeking to dismiss the state charges, arguing that the federal guilty plea constitutes double jeopardy. "New York law does not permit a person to be prosecuted and punished twice for the exact same crime," said his lawyer Karen Friedman Agnifilo.
The Manhattan District Attorney's office, however, stated it is prepared to proceed with the state prosecution, which includes charges of second-degree murder and weapons possession.
Prosecutors have recommended a sentence of 24 to 30 years, but Judge Margaret Garnett noted the maximum is life in prison, with no parole in the federal system. Sentencing is scheduled for December 18.
Thompson's family called the plea "an important step toward justice" and expressed hope that the sentence will reflect the severity of the crime.
Source: BBC News
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