Luigi Mangione has admitted in federal court that he shot and killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside a Midtown Manhattan hotel in December 2024.
The 28-year-old Maryland native provided a chilling explanation while pleading guilty on Friday, August 14, offering years of frustration with the American healthcare system that drove him to murder.
Explaining his reasons, he told the judge that he developed a deep hatred towards UnitedHealthcare when he was enduring severe pain from an injured back and exploring the complexities of the insurance system. He saw a potential opportunity when an annual investor conference was held in New York on December 4, 2024.
Although the specific location was not shared, Mangione said he researched the event online and emailed leadership disguised as an investor to get more information. Within an hour, he received the response.
Mangione admitted to printing a gun with the help of a 3D printer and attaching a silencer. He then stalked Thompson before shooting him on the Manhattan sidewalk in the early morning hours.
Mangione told the judge: “I shot Mr Thompson in Manhattan. I understood that my actions would place him in fear of death or bodily injury. I knew what I was doing was illegal.”
U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald characterised Mangione’s motives as an “attempt to draw public attention to his dislike of certain businesses.”
Mangione now faces a maximum sentence of life in prison when is sentenced on December 18. His lawyers have filed a motion arguing that his federal guilty plea triggers double jeopardy protections, meaning he cannot face a separate state murder trial.
2026-08-14 23:01:00
