Luigi Mangione admits to shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO as he pleads guilty in federal case

NEW YORK — Luigi Mangione admitted to shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson as he pleaded guilty Friday to two federal stalking counts.

Mangione, wearing tan prison clothes, addressed the court himself, saying, “After years of enduring severe pain from a broken back … I learned UnitedHealth would be holding an investor conference in New York City.”

“I then researched the event online. I observed the annual conference of America’s largest healthcare organization with the stated mission to make the healthcare system better for everyone,” he said.

Mangione said he learned the exact location of UnitedHealthcare’s conference by emailing the company, posing as an investor with more than $50 million in capital.

“I traveled to New York and emailed UnitedHealthcare with the intent to kill Brian Thompson … I shot Mr. Thompson in the back,” he said, adding, “I knew what I was doing was illegal.”

Mangione pleaded guilty to both stalking counts and U.S. District Judge Margaret Garnett accepted the plea. His sentencing is set for Dec. 18.

As Mangione spoke, members of Thompson’s family, including his wife and mother, sat in the front row of the courtroom, marking the first time they appeared in court. Thompson’s wife appeared to be crying as the hearing began. Executives from UnitedHealthcare also attended.

Before Mangione admitted his guilt, Garnett asked Mangione if he understood that he’d give up his right to a trial if he pleaded guilty, and Mangione responded yes.

Garnett told Mangione a guilty plea would expose him to a possible life sentence. 

“Do you understand that?” the judge asked, and Mangione replied, “yes.”

There is no plea agreement between Mangione and the federal government, the judge confirmed. Mangione affirmed he was promised nothing and was not threatened or coerced.

Prosecutors in court outlined what would have been evidence at trial, including footage of the shooting and Mangione fleeing the scene.

The guilty plea could complicate Mangione’s murder prosecution in state court, where trial is scheduled to begin Sept. 8. His federal trial had been set for Jan. 5.

Defense attorneys have already tried to dismiss the murder charges on double jeopardy grounds. The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office is prepared to move forward, arguing stalking and murder address different harms.

About three dozen members of the public — including at least one person who camped out in a tent overnight — lined up outside the courthouse Friday morning to try to secure a seat in the courtroom.

Mangione’s supporters are often outspoken during his hearings, but there were little-to-no demonstrators on Friday morning. And with the federal court limiting what members of the public can wear, Mangione’s supporters were not donning their normal shirts proclaiming his innocence.

Mangione is accused of gunning down Thompson on Dec. 4, 2024, in Midtown Manhattan, and he was captured in Pennsylvania after a five-day manhunt. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg announced that Mangione was indicted on first-degree murder charges on Dec. 17, 2024, and federal prosecutors announced separate charges of stalking and murder on Dec. 19, 2024. 

Mangione pleaded not guilty in the separate state and federal cases.

The charges in both cases have narrowed over the last year. In the federal case, Garnett in January threw out the murder and firearm charges, leaving two counts: stalking — travel in interstate commerce and stalking — use of interstate facilities.

In the state case, Judge Gregory Carro last September dismissed the first-degree murder and terrorism charges. In the state case, Mangione is still charged with murder in the second-degree, criminal possession of a forged instrument in the second-degree, and multiple counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second-degree, third-degree and fourth-degree.