Mangione admits 2024 shooting of US health boss, pleads guilty

Luigi Mangione admitted Friday to fatally shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Manhattan, pleading guilty to stalking charges before a federal judge. The 28-year-old is accused of murdering the 50-year-old executive in December 2024, an act he reportedly committed to protest the U.S. insurance system.

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On the morning of December 4, I shot Mr Thompson in Manhattan and he died.

"On the morning of December 4, I shot Mr Thompson in Manhattan and he died," Mangione told the judge. He faces a potential life sentence, with prosecutors indicating they will seek the maximum punishment. Mangione was already facing murder charges in New York state court, but his lawyers are pushing to have those dismissed, citing double jeopardy protections against being prosecuted twice for the same offense.

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We just filed our motion in state court, explaining why the state charges must be dismissed under New York’s double jeopardy protections.

The case has polarized public opinion, with some conservatives, including former President Donald Trump, calling for a harsh sentence. However, Mangione has garnered support from ardent admirers who flocked to the Manhattan courthouse. "While nothing will ease the pain of losing him, we are grateful that the federal justice system has held the person responsible for this heinous act accountable," Thompson's family said in a statement after the hearing, noting that the murder trial is still pending.

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There can be no celebrity in assassination.

Thompson's death brought to the surface deep public frustration with the U.S. commercial healthcare system, with some social media users portraying Mangione as a symbol of that discontent. He was apprehended in Altoona, Pennsylvania, on December 9, following a tip from a McDonald's employee, concluding a multi-day manhunt. Prosecutors stated he had traveled to New York by bus from Atlanta approximately ten days before the shooting, allegedly conducting reconnaissance near Thompson's hotel and a conference venue.

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While nothing will ease the pain of losing him, we are grateful that the federal justice system has held the person responsible for this heinous act accountable.