In a dramatic turn of events, Luigi Mangione has confessed to federal accusations connected to the tragic shooting of Brian Thompson.
Mangione, who is 28, changed his initial plea to guilty on August 14, acknowledging federal stalking charges in the 2024 murder of the UnitedHealthcare CEO. This plea reversal comes after his previous declaration of innocence in April 2025, as reported by the Associated Press.
This development addresses one of the two legal battles Mangione faces in connection with Thompson’s untimely death, as noted by the same source.
Outside the courtroom in Manhattan, Mangione’s defense team announced that they have requested the dismissal of state charges, arguing that these charges overlap, thus violating the principle of double jeopardy.
“Mr. Mangione has taken full accountability for causing Brian Thompson’s death,” stated defense attorney Karen Friedman during an AP’s livestream. She insisted that her client should not be subjected to multiple prosecutions for what she termed as a “single tragic event.”
In court, Mangione shared that he suffered from back pain for years and learned that UnitedHealthcare planned to hold an investor conference in Manhattan, according to MS Now. He also posed as an investor to obtain the address of the event.
“I shot Mr. Thompson in Manhattan, and he died,” Mangione said, per the outlet. “And I knew what I was doing was illegal.”
Per a letter agreement, prosecutors indicated that they believe the crimes warrant Mangione facing between 24 to 36 years in prison, MS Now reported. The judge set his sentencing hearing for Dec. 18.
In June, his defense announced they were no longer pursuing a psychiatric defense, a major reversal for their strategy.
Prosecutors alleged that in November 2024, Mangione traveled to New York from Georgia and checked into a hostel using a fake New Jersey ID. On the morning of Dec. 4, he allegedly rode an e-bike to midtown Manhattan.
Wearing a hoodie and a mask and armed with a 9-millimeter 3D-printed ghost gun with a silencer, Mangione allegedly shot 50-year-old Thompson in the back and leg, before fleeing the scene and eventually the state, prosecutors said.
Thompson was transported to a hospital where he died.
Investigators later found two shell casings marked with the words “DENY” and “DEPOSE” and a bullet bearing the word “DELAY” at the scene.
According to two law enforcement officials who spoke anonymously to the Associated Press, the words may reference the alleged catchphrase, “Delay, Deny, Defend,” reportedly used by healthcare companies when rejecting payment for medical treatments.
Mangione was arrested on Dec. 9 when authorities tracked him down at a McDonald’s in Altoona, PA after an employee recognized him from media photos. There, police recovered a handgun, ammunition magazines, live cartridges, a homemade silencer and the fake ID.
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