Luigi Mangione confessed in court on Friday to shooting and killing Brian Thompson, a health insurance executive, and pleaded guilty to two federal charges of stalking Thompson with the intent to murder him.
During the court proceedings, Mangione, dressed in beige prison attire, calmly admitted to the shooting in Manhattan. Thompson’s widow and other family members were present in the courtroom, visibly emotional upon hearing Mangione’s admission.
By pleading guilty, Mangione avoided a federal trial in the high-profile case involving the murder of the 50-year-old UnitedHealthcare CEO. Prosecutors did not offer any leniency in sentencing, seeking a life imprisonment term, the maximum penalty, scheduled for December 18.
The guilty plea could be considered a mitigating factor by U.S. District Judge Margaret Garnett during sentencing. This plea also enabled Mangione’s legal team to file a motion to dismiss separate state murder and weapons charges, citing New York’s prohibition on double jeopardy.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald emphasized that no concessions were made to Mangione, stating that no grievance or ideology justifies murder. Thompson’s family viewed the guilty plea as a significant step towards justice and expected the court to reflect the severity of the crime in the sentencing.
Before the fatal shooting on December 4, 2024, Thompson led the insurance division of UnitedHealth Group. The incident, captured in graphic footage, led to a widespread manhunt and media coverage with Mangione’s subsequent arrest in Pennsylvania.
In his statement, Mangione mentioned facing challenges with his insurance after a back injury, without elaborating. He detailed how he impersonated an investor to gain access to information about an investor conference, ultimately using a 3D printer to create a firearm part to carry out the shooting.
UnitedHealth Group expressed gratitude to law enforcement for bringing Brian’s killer to justice. Mangione had initially pleaded not guilty to federal charges in 2025, but legal technicalities led to the dismissal of murder and weapons charges in January 2026, ruling out the death penalty possibility.
Separately, Mangione faced state charges including terrorism, murder, and forgery, with a trial set for September 8. His defense invoked the double jeopardy law, arguing that a second trial would violate his constitutional rights. State prosecutors may contest this motion, emphasizing their commitment to seeking justice for Brian Thompson and his family.