Luigi Mangione pleads guilty to federal charges in Brian Thompson killing

New York, USA, August 15, 2026 — Luigi Mangione admitted in federal court on Friday that he shot UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Manhattan and pleaded guilty to two federal stalking charges connected to the killing.

Mangione, 28, told Manhattan federal court that he had planned the attack, traveled across state lines with the intention of killing Thompson and targeted him outside a Manhattan hotel on December 4, 2024. Thompson, 50, was shot as he arrived for UnitedHealth Group’s annual investor conference.

“I shot Mr. Thompson in Manhattan and he died,” Mangione said during the hearing.

The guilty plea resolves the federal case without a trial. The two federal charges — interstate stalking resulting in death and stalking through the use of interstate facilities resulting in death — each carry a potential maximum sentence of life imprisonment. U.S. District Judge Margaret Garnett scheduled Mangione’s sentencing for December 18. Federal prosecutors have indicated they will seek a life sentence, while the judge will ultimately determine the punishment.

Mangione entered the plea without a negotiated sentencing agreement with federal prosecutors. He acknowledged in court that he understood the potential penalties and that there was no guarantee that his guilty plea would result in a reduced sentence.

In a statement read during the hearing, Mangione said his decision to kill Thompson was influenced by his experiences with the U.S. health insurance system after suffering a severe back injury. He said he learned that UnitedHealthcare was holding its annual investor conference in New York and contacted the company beforehand while pretending to be an investor seeking information about the event.

He also acknowledged traveling to New York and using a 3-D printer to make part of a firearm. His admission gave prosecutors a detailed account of how he said he planned and carried out the attack.

Thompson’s family welcomed the guilty plea, describing it as an important step toward accountability while saying they would continue to pursue justice in other proceedings. The family said the federal court should ensure that the eventual sentence reflects the seriousness of the crime.