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Luigi Mangione enters guilty plea in NYC federal court
By
Ben Feuerherd
,
Samantha Max
and
Walter Wuthmann
Published Aug 14, 2026
Modified Aug 14, 2026
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David Dee Delgado-Pool/Getty Images
By
Ben Feuerherd
,
Samantha Max
and
Walter Wuthmann
Published Aug 14, 2026
Modified Aug 14, 2026
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Luigi Mangione entered a guilty plea in Manhattan federal court on Friday — acknowledging he gunned down UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on a Midtown street in 2024.
The 28-year-old Ivy League graduate faced charges in both state and federal court related to Thompson's killing. Federal prosecutors accused him of stalking Thompson to New York City and shooting him outside a Midtown hotel in the early morning hours of Dec. 4, 2024.
In court, he detailed planning to kill Thompson and following through.
“I shot Mr. Thompson in Manhattan and he died,” he said.
Mangione wore a tan jail uniform. He was not handcuffed, but his feet were shackled.
Mangione faces up to life in prison for the federal crimes he pleaded guilty to, which were charges that he stalked Thompson and traveled to New York to kill him. Judge Margaret Garnett said she will sentence him Dec. 18.
Brian Thompson’s family was in the courtroom, Assistant U.S. Attorney Dominic Gentile said in court.
Paulette Thompson (3L), wife of Brian Thompson, and family members of Thompson depart federal court after Luigi Mangione pleaded guilty to the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, in New York, on August 14, 2026.
Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP via Getty Images
During the brief plea hearing, which lasted less than 45 minutes, Mangione told Garnett that he planned the killing after suffering years of pain from a broken back.
Prior to the killing, Mangione said, he researched UnitedHealthcare’s annual investor conference, but found the exact location of the event was not publicly disclosed. He said he then emailed the company, posing as a potential investor with large amounts of capital to invest. The company responded to his inquiry almost immediately, he said.
Prior to traveling to New York, Mangione said, he used a 3D printer to create a gun and equipped it with a silencer. He said he traveled to Manhattan with the intention to kill Thompson.
The Thompson family released a statement after the hearing.
"Today's guilty plea marks an important step toward justice for Brian and for our family. 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 statement said. "Now we look to the court to ensure that sentencing reflects the severity of this crime. We remain mindful that additional proceedings in New York and Pennsylvania are still to come, and we will continue to seek the justice Brian deserves."
NYPD Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch and officials with the Southern District of New York office speak outside federal court in Manhattan Friday, after Luigi Mangione offered a guilty plea to federal charges.
Walter Wuthmann / Gothamist
UnitedHealth Group posted a statement on its website Friday.
“Brian Thompson's life was cut short by an act of violence that devastated everyone who knew and loved him," the statement reads. "We are grateful to law enforcement for bringing Brian's murderer to justice, and our thoughts remain with Brian's family and loved ones during this difficult time.”
After his arrest, Mangione pleaded not guilty to the stalking charges in federal court, as well as second-degree murder and weapons charges in state court. Judges dismissed more serious charges in both cases, including state terrorism charges and a federal murder charge that could have resulted in the death penalty. He still faces state second-degree murder and firearms charges.
Mangione’s attorney, Karen Agnifilo, said outside the courtroom after the hearing that his legal team filed a motion to dismiss the charges he faces in state court. Defense attorneys argue further prosecution is now barred under the legal concept of double jeopardy, which protects people from being tried twice for the same crime.
She also reiterated what Mangione said about his experience with the health care system in the United States.
“He endured years of severe debilitating pain following a broken back while struggling to navigate our healthcare and health insurance systems,” Agnifilo said.
“He believed that the system had failed him and destroyed his life,” she added.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the Manhattan district attorney’s office — which brought the state charges against Mangione — said state authorities were prepared to litigate his defense motion.
The shooting was caught on camera and quickly captivated the public as speculation mounted about a possible motive. The NYPD found bullet casings at the scene with the words “deny,” “defend” and ”depose” — similar to the title of the book “Delay Deny Defend: Why Insurance Companies Don’t Pay Claims and What You Can Do About It.”
When police arrested Mangione days later in Pennsylvania, they found a notebook where he wrote that he planned to “wack” an insurance company executive at an investor conference, according to prosecutors.
Supporters have made Mangione into a folk hero of sorts, with some lauding what they see as a political statement against a health insurance industry that prioritizes profits.
James McDonald, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, sought to push back on that narrative in a press conference. “There can be no celebrity in assassination,” he said.
There were fewer supporters outside the courthouse Friday than past hearings, which have drawn large crowds of people holding signs and wearing “Free Luigi” T-shirts. A handful of supporters left court with their faces covered and avoided speaking to reporters.
But others said they were glad to hear Mangione explicitly take responsibility for shooting the health insurance CEO.
“I feel relief,” said Abril Rios, a Mangione supporter and social media influencer. “I will continue to support him and also support the movement that this has created.”
Mangione supporters said they now hope for a lenient sentence.
“There’s still great jeopardy and much potential for vengeance with really long sentences,” said William Dobbs, a self-described activist for civil liberties and universal health care. “In this country our sentencing is so out of whack, we’re just drunk on punishment.”
Critics have expressed horror at the celebration of a violent and deadly crime.
“Luigi Mangione carried out a ruthless act of violence that shocked this city, and today’s guilty plea is an important moment of accountability for this heinous crime,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch.
UnitedHealth Group posted a statement on its website Friday.
“Brian Thompson's life was cut short by an act of violence that devastated everyone who knew and loved him," the statement reads." We are grateful to law enforcement for bringing Brian's murderer to justice, and our thoughts remain with Brian's family and loved ones during this difficult time.
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manhattan
public safety
Ben Feuerherd
Ben Feuerherd covers public safety and policing for WNYC and Gothamist. He previously covered federal courts for The New York Post and The Messenger. His work has also appeared in POLITICO, the Daily Beast and NBC New York. Got a tip? Email [email protected].
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Samantha Max
Samantha reports on whether New Yorkers feel safe and whether the institutions that are supposed to protect them are working. Before coming to WNYC/Gothamist, she spent three years covering the criminal justice system in Tennessee for Nashville Public Radio. Her reporting on Nashville's police department received multiple awards, including the Daniel Schorr Journalism Prize. Samantha was also part of the inaugural class of Report for America, a service journalism program that sends up-and-coming reporters to local newsrooms across the country. She is a Northwestern University grad, a Baltimore native and fluent in Spanish. Got a tip? Email [email protected] or Signal: samanthamaxwnyc.93.
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Walter Wuthmann
Walter Wuthmann is a reporter covering public safety and the legal system.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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