Luigi Mangione is set to appear in federal court on Friday for a hearing where he is expected to plead guilty related to the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in 2024. A source familiar with the case, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, indicated that Mangione could still change his mind about the plea. Previous plea discussions in June did not result in an agreement.
Both federal and state prosecutors have charged Mangione, 28, with ambushing Thompson, 50, outside a New York City hotel on December 4, 2024, as Thompson was heading to an investor conference. A trial for state murder charges is scheduled for next month, but it remains uncertain if this trial will proceed if Mangione pleads guilty in the federal case.
Mangione faces two federal charges related to stalking Thompson with the intent to cause his death, and both cases could result in a life sentence. Earlier this year, a federal judge dismissed additional charges that could have led to a death penalty. Mangione has expressed concerns about facing two trials, stating, "It’s the same trial twice. One plus one is two. Double jeopardy by any commonsense definition."
State prosecutors have raised objections to the possibility of a guilty plea in the federal case affecting the state case. Under New York law, double jeopardy protections apply if a jury is sworn in a prior prosecution or if that prosecution ends in a guilty plea.
U.S. District Judge Margaret M. Garnett has ruled that evidence collected from Mangione's backpack during his arrest can be used against him, which includes a 3D-printed pistol and a notebook detailing his intent to kill an insurance executive. In June, Mangione's legal team indicated they would pursue a psychiatric defense in the state case but later retracted this decision, as such a defense is not permissible in federal court.
Surveillance footage captured the incident, showing a masked gunman shooting Thompson. Authorities noted that phrases on the ammunition matched terminology used in the insurance industry regarding claim denials. Mangione, a University of Pennsylvania graduate, was arrested five days after the incident at a McDonald's in Altoona, Pennsylvania, approximately 230 miles from Manhattan.