Luigi Mangione, 28, has pleaded guilty in federal court in Manhattan in connection with the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

During the August 14 hearing, Mangione directly acknowledged his role in Thompson’s death, telling the court: “I sH๏τ Mr. Thompson, and he died.” He also admitted that he had traveled to New York with the intention of killing Thompson and understood that his actions were illegal.

However, Mangione did not plead guilty to a federal murder charge. Instead, he pleaded guilty to two federal counts of interstate stalking resulting in death related to the December 4, 2024, shooting.

The killing occurred in Manhattan, where Thompson was fatally sH๏τ outside a H๏τel during a UnitedHealthcare investor conference. The case quickly became one of the most closely watched criminal investigations in the country. 🚨

Mangione’s federal guilty plea does not automatically end the separate criminal case against him in New York State. He continues to face state charges, including second-degree murder and weapons-related offenses.

His attorneys are now seeking to have the state prosecution dismissed, arguing that continuing the case could violate protections against double jeopardy because the federal and state cases arise from the same underlying conduct. ⚖️

A New York judge has postponed the state trial while the issue is considered. Prosecutors have been given until October 9 to respond, with another court appearance scheduled for December 10.

Meanwhile, Mangione’s federal sentencing is scheduled for December 18, 2026. Federal prosecutors are seeking a life sentence, while his defense will have an opportunity to argue for a different punishment.

Brian Thompson’s family attended the federal plea hearing and later said the guilty plea represented an important step toward accountability, while emphasizing that further legal proceedings remain. 💔🕊️

The case now moves into a new and complicated phase: Mangione has admitted in federal court that he fatally sH๏τ Thompson, but the separate New York murder prosecution — and the legal battle over whether it can continue — remains unresolved. ⚖️💔