Luigi Mangione pleads guilty to charges tied to Brian Thompson’s fatal shooting

Luigi Mangione pleads guilty in the federal case over Brian Thompson’s killing, with sentencing set for December 18

Luigi Mangione has pleaded guilty to federal charges stemming from the 2024 shooting death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City.

Mangione, 28, entered the guilty plea during a court hearing in Manhattan on August 14, 2026, admitting that he travelled to New York with the intention of killing Thompson. The judge accepted his plea after determining that Mangione was competent to proceed.

According to CBS News, Mangione told the court that he had experienced severe back pain for years and had navigated the health insurance system. He said he learned about UnitedHealthcare’s annual investor conference, travelled to New York and posed as an investor to gather information about the event.

Mangione also acknowledged bringing a firearm, silencer and magazine to New York. Prosecutors have cited surveillance footage, forensic evidence, a recovered firearm and ammunition, and writings from a notebook as evidence in the case.

Thompson, 50, was fatally shot on December 4, 2024, while arriving at a Manhattan hotel for UnitedHealth Group’s investor conference. His death prompted a nationwide manhunt that ended with Mangione’s arrest in Altoona, Pennsylvania, five days later.

Mangione faces a maximum possible federal sentence of life in prison. His federal sentencing is scheduled for December 18, and there is no plea agreement between the prosecution and defence.

The federal case is separate from Mangione’s pending New York state case, where he faces second-degree murder and other charges. His defence has filed a motion arguing that the state prosecution should be dismissed under double jeopardy protections.

The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office has said it intends to oppose the motion and continue pursuing the state case, which is scheduled to begin in September.