The man accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York, Luigi Mangione has pleaded guilty to federal stalking charges linked to the December 2024 shooting.
Mangione, 28, entered the plea in a Manhattan federal court on Friday as members of Thompson’s family watched the proceedings.
During his statement to the court, Mangione disclosed that he had posed as a potential investor and contacted UnitedHealthcare to establish the location of an investors’ conference where Thompson was expected to appear.
“I emailed UnitedHealthcare with the intent to shoot Brian Thompson,” Mangione said in his statement.
“On the morning of Dec. 4, 2024 I shot Mr. Thompson in Manhattan in his back.”
He also acknowledged that he knew the shooting would cause Thompson to fear for his life and that his actions were unlawful.
The defendant said his decision to target Thompson was influenced by his own experience with the healthcare system following a back injury.
Prosecutors, however, have said Mangione had no personal relationship with Thompson, nor had he been a customer of UnitedHealthcare.
Thompson’s family described the guilty plea as a significant step towards justice.
“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,” the family said.
“Now we look to the court to ensure that sentencing reflects the severity of this crime.”
Mangione faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
Federal prosecutors said they intend to seek the maximum punishment, despite earlier estimates that his federal sentencing range could have been between 24 and 30 years.
His sentencing is scheduled for December 18, when the judge will determine the final punishment.
The guilty plea is also expected to intensify a legal dispute over separate murder charges Mangione faces in New York state court. His lawyers argue that pursuing the state case after the federal guilty plea could violate double jeopardy protections.
Mangione’s attorney, Karen Friedman Agnifilo, said the defence had already filed a motion seeking dismissal of the state charges.
“As Luigi explained in court today, he endured years of severe debilitating pain following a broken back while struggling to navigate our healthcare and health insurance systems,” Friedman Agnifilo said.
“He believed that the system had failed him and destroyed his life,” the attorney added.
Mangione is scheduled to face trial in the state case on September 8, although the double jeopardy challenge could delay those proceedings and potentially result in further appeals.
Federal prosecutors said Mangione pleaded guilty without a plea agreement, leaving them free to pursue the maximum sentence.
“While the defendant pled guilty, our office does not have a plea agreement with him,” McDonald said outside the courthouse after Mangione’s plea.
“Instead, he pled open, which means he pled guilty to all pending counts in the indictment. There are no accommodations or concessions, and we are free to seek the maximum penalty under the law.”
“The result achieved today now allows our office to seek the maximum penalty allowed, life imprisonment, which, as I’ve conveyed to Mr. Thompson’s family, is what we intend to seek,” McDonald added.
Mangione pleaded guilty to two federal counts involving interstate stalking resulting in death.
The charges are separate from the state case, which includes second-degree murder and firearms offences.
He was arrested at a McDonald’s restaurant in Pennsylvania on December 9, 2024, five days after Thompson was shot outside a Manhattan hotel where an investors’ conference was taking place.
Authorities said a notebook found in Mangione’s backpack contained grievances against the health insurance industry.
Investigators also recovered ammunition at the crime scene bearing the words “delay,” “deny,” “depose.”
Mangione’s lawyers had unsuccessfully challenged the admission of the notebook as evidence, arguing that it was obtained through an unlawful search.
