Luigi Mangione admits killing UnitedHealthcare CEO and pleads guilty to federal charges

Luigi Mangione in a dark suit standing before police officers
Luigi Mangione, pictured in May, appeared in fiscal court in New York on 14 August 2026.

In a Manhattan federal court session on Friday, the 28‑year‑old admitted taking a life. “I shot Mr Thompson in Manhattan and he died,” Mangione told the judge during his plea hearing. The victim, 50‑year‑old Brian Thompson, was shot from behind on 4 December 2024 as he entered a hotel in midtown Manhattan.

Thompson, a father of two, was the chief executive officer of UnitedHealthcare. The victim’s family issued a statement that the guilty plea marks an “important step toward justice for Brian and for our family.”

Mangione faces a maximum sentence of life in prison under the federal statute for interstate stalking resulting in death. He also faces state charges, though his lawyers are seeking dismissal of those indictments on double‑jeopardy grounds.

Courtroom sketch of Luigi Mangione in federal trial
Courtroom sketch of Luigi Mangione presented during the federal murder trial.

During the plea, Mangione acknowledged that he had planned the attack months before, crossing state lines with a weapon that “was printed on a 3‑D‑printer and equipped with a silencer and magazine.” He explained his motive as retaliation for personal grievances with the healthcare system following years of severe back pain.

He had also emailed UnitedHealthcare posing as an investor and asking questions about an upcoming investor conference. “I emailed UnitedHealthcare with the intent to shoot Brian Thompson,” Mangione said in his statement, citing the morning of 4 December 2024 as the moment of the shooting.

Sentencing for the federal charges is scheduled for 18 December. Prosecutors have outlined a recommended 24‑30 year range, but Judge Margaret Garnett noted that the final decision rests with her, and that the maximum punishment is life in prison with no possibility of parole. Financial penalties are also to be imposed.

While the state case remains slated for September, Mangione’s lawyers argue that a guilty verdict in the federal case undermines the New York state prosecution on double‑jeopardy grounds. The Manhattan District Attorney’s office, however, has stated it is prepared to pursue the state charges regardless.

The family of the slain CEO has expressed gratitude for the federal system’s accountability, vowing to continue seeking justice in both New York state and Pennsylvania, where Mangione was first arrested.

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