Luigi Mangione Pleads Guilty After Shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO
A brisk September morning in a New York federal courtroom was punctuated by the moment when 28‑year‑old Luigi Mangione admitted in front of Judge Margaret Garnett that he had killed UnitedHealth Care’s chief executive, Brian Thompson, on a Manhattan street in December 2024.
The courtroom was crowded: reporters, supporters, and a handful of court staff who had won a lottery space. Thompson’s family sat in the front row, their eyes brimming with grief as their loss was put into words for the first time.
Mangione, in beige uniform, feet shackled, hands pulled behind his back, was asked by the judge a series of questions to ensure he understood that a guilty plea could result in a life sentence. He responded flatly that he understood the stakes and, when prompted, declared: “I’m guilty.”
He also outlined the pre‑murder plan: including researching UnitedHealth’s December conference, sending a deceptive email, and employing a 3‑D printer to create a firearm. Prosecutors recommend a 24‑30 year prison term, while the judge must ultimately set his sentence on 18 December.
† Mangione’s subsequent state‑level murder trial is slated for September.
