LIVE: Luigi Mangione pleads guilty to federal stalking charges in killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO

Luigi Mangione pleaded guilty on Friday to federal stalking charges in the 2024 killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. The decision could have serious implications on his upcoming state trial for the killing. 

Luigi Mangione guilty plea

What we know:

Mangione entered the plea at a hastily scheduled hearing in Manhattan federal court. This resolves one of two cases against him in connection with Thompson’s death.

"On the morning of Dec. 4, 2024, I shot Mr. Thompson in Manhattan, and he died," Mangione told the court, after his lawyers informed the judge of his decision. 

Sentencing was set for December 18. 

The New York Times first reported Thursday that Mangione was expected to plead guilty at the hearing, but the report did not specify what he would plead guilty to. 

Double jeopardy?

Big picture view:

A guilty plea in federal court could short-circuit Mangione's imminent New York state trial, where he faces charges including second-degree murder for the 2024 killing of Brian Thompson.

Mangione's attorneys would likely argue that, under New York's strong double-jeopardy laws, he cannot be tried by the state after pleading guilty in the federal case.

The Manhattan District Attorney is likely to contend that Mangione could still be tried because the federal case relates to stalking, while the state charged him with murder. 

The state trial is currently set to start in September.

Luigi Mangione case

The backstory:

Mangione is accused of stalking and gunning down UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside a Midtown Manhattan hotel on Dec. 4, 2024. 

Authorities said shell casings found on the scene were etched with the words "delay," "deny" and "depose" – apparently reflecting criticism of the health care industry. 

Mangione was arrested five days after the shooting at a McDonald's in Altoona, Pennsylvania, more than 200 miles west of New York City. 

Crime and Public SafetyU.S.New York