Man pleads guilty to murdering CEO, citing back pain and using 3D-printed gun

Luigi Mangione, 28, has pleaded guilty to the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, admitting he shot the executive on a Midtown Manhattan sidewalk in December 2024. The guilty plea came during a federal court hearing on August 14, 2026, where Mangione confessed to two federal charges related to harassment.

Before Judge Margaret Garnett, Mangione stated he fired the weapon and was aware of his actions. He explained that the attack followed years of intense pain from a back injury and that he had manufactured the gun himself using a 3D printer. Mangione had reportedly located a UnitedHealthcare conference and gathered information about its venue prior to the shooting.

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I shot Thompson and I knew what I was doing.

Federal prosecutors have recommended a sentence ranging from 192 to 365 months, equivalent to 16 to 30.5 years in prison. These federal charges do not allow for parole, and Mangione remains in custody at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.

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The attack occurred after years of intense pain from a back injury.

Meanwhile, Mangione's defense team is challenging the state charges, arguing that a second prosecution could violate double jeopardy protections. They have filed a new motion in New York state court, though a judge previously deemed the argument premature. The state trial is still scheduled for September, where Mangione faces a murder charge that carries a potential life sentence.

Supporters of Mangione gathered outside the courthouse, with some expressing their support and others leaving in tears. An online campaign has raised over $1.5 million for his legal defense, and he has received thousands of letters during his detention. His federal sentencing is set for December, while the state case proceeds.

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The federal prosecutors recommended a sentence of between 192 and 365 months. That range is equivalent to between 16 and 30 and a half years in prison.