Manhattan shooter pleads guilty to federal stalking charges in UnitedHealthcare CEO death

Luigi Mangione, 28, pleaded guilty in federal court to two counts of stalking resulting in the death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, who was shot outside a Manhattan Hilton hotel in 2024. The plea avoids a federal murder charge, which is rarely pursued, but Mangione still faces a separate murder indictment in New York state court.

"I shot Mr. Thompson and he died. I knew that what I was doing was illegal," Mangione told the court, acknowledging his actions without expressing remorse.

Mangione's attorneys argue that the federal plea should bar the state prosecution under New York's double-jeopardy protections, and they have filed a motion to dismiss the state case scheduled for September. Prosecutors note that video evidence, the weapon and a diary outlining the plot link Mangione to the shooting.

During sentencing, Mangione said his motive stemmed from chronic back pain and frustration with the health-insurance system. He claimed he posed as an investor to obtain details about an UnitedHealthcare investor summit, which enabled him to confront Thompson. He contrasted the rapid response he received from company leadership with the treatment he experienced as a patient.

The case remains pending in New York, where Mangione could still face a murder conviction if the double-jeopardy argument is rejected.