Luigi Mangione described the grievance he says led him to target UnitedHealthcare chief executive Brian Thompson as he admitted guilt to federal stalking charges.
Mangione, 28, acknowledged that he shot Thompson, 50, in New York City on December 4, 2024, as the executive was making his way to a conference.
In court, he said years of “severe” back pain and frustration with the health insurance system drove him to impersonate an investor with $50 billion before carrying out the fatal attack.
The admission came Friday in Manhattan federal court, where the Maryland native pleaded guilty to one count of interstate stalking resulting in death and one count of stalking through the use of interstate facilities resulting in death.
Federal murder charges against Mangione had previously been dismissed, though he is still scheduled to face a state trial next month on charges that he murdered Thompson.
Speaking before the court, Mangione outlined how he focused on the healthcare executive and the company’s investor gathering.
‘After years of enduring severe pain from a broken back, navigating the obstacles of the health insurance system and witnessing similar experiences of countless others, I learned that UnitedHealthcare would be holding its annual investor conference in New York City on December 4, 2024, although the specific location was not publicly disclosed,’ Mangione told the court.
‘I then searched the event online. I observed that the annual conference of America’s largest health care organization and the stated mission to make health – excuse me – with the stated mission to make the health system work better for everyone, would be attended by company executives, the board of directors, and hundreds of investors, not doctors, nurses, and patients.’
As he pleaded guilty to federal stalking charges, Luigi Mangione revealed his reasoning for shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside a New York City hotel
The 28-year-old confessed to gunning down Thompson, 50, in New York City as he walked to a conference on December 4, 2024
Mangione also revealed how he got Thompson’s location and acquired his weapon.
‘In November of 2024, I traveled from outside of New York State to Manhattan. I then emailed UnitedHealthcare leadership posing as an investor at a firm managing over $50 billion in assets and requesting information about the conference,’ he said.
‘Unlike my previous interactions with insurers, I received an immediate response within an hour. Before traveling to New York, I used a 3-D printer to make part of a gun, and I equipped the gun with the silencer and magazine. My travel to New York and email to UnitedHealthcare was with the intent to shoot Brian Thompson.’
Mangione concluded: ‘On the morning of December 4, 2024, I shot Mr Thompson in Manhattan and he died. When I did so, I understood that my actions would place him in fear of death or serious bodily injury. I knew what I was doing was illegal.’
The federal stalking charges he admitted to carry a maximum sentence of life in prison.
His sentencing hearing has been scheduled for December 18.
While there is no formal plea deal in place, the judge told Mangione that federal sentencing guidelines call for roughly 24 to 30 years in prison – though she stressed she is not bound by that range.
The Thompson family, who came face-to-face with Mangione for the first time at the hearing, issued a statement after the plea, calling for him to face a strong punishment.
Mangione claimed ‘severe’ back pain drove him to pose as an investor with $50 billion before shooting CEO dead
Thompson’s family came face-to-face with Mangione for the first time in court on Friday as he confessed, ‘I shot Mr Thompson and he died’
‘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 family 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.’
Outside the courthouse, federal prosecutors emphasized that Mangione does not have a plea deal, and they will seek the maximum sentence.
The shock plea comes just weeks before Mangione is slated to go to trial on state murder charges.
Immediately after the hearing, Mangione’s legal team filed a motion to dismiss the state charges because of New York’s double jeopardy laws.
‘Mr Mangione has been unfairly treated since the outset in every way and has successfully fought off terrorism charges and the death penalty, while also fighting – at the same time – two simultaneous prosecutions in two jurisdictions, who are trying to punish him twice for the exact conduct,’ Mangione’s lawyer Karen Friedman Agnifilo said.
‘He’s been treated differently from every other defendant charged with this offense in New York.’
Federal and state governments can prosecute for the same conduct because they are considered independent of each other, but under New York state law, double jeopardy can come into play when a prior prosecution for the same conduct ends in a conviction by guilty plea or a resolution at trial.
