Luigi Mangione is not eligible for the death penalty
Luigi Mangione avoided the death penalty in the murder of United Healthcare CEO.
The death penalty for Luigi Mangione in the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was removed after the most serious federal charges were dismissed by a judge on January 30.
Mangione still faces other state charges. He has pleaded not guilty to murder, weapons and forgery charges in New York.
The latest update hinges on four counts filed in federal court against Mangione, 27, in connection with a Dec. 4, 2024, shooting outside a Manhattan hotel. He has been charged with two counts of stalking, weapons offenses and murder with a firearm, and could face the death penalty if convicted.
In a Jan. 30 court order, U.S. District Judge Margaret M. Garnett granted a motion to remove the death penalty from the case and dismiss the two most serious charges. Mr. Mangione will continue to stand trial on charges of stalking him in the death of Mr. Thompson, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has directed the Justice Department to pursue the death penalty against Mangione in 2025. At the time, defense attorney Karen Friedman Agnifilo said in a statement that the federal charges were brought by a “lawless Justice Department” that made a “political” decision to pursue the death penalty.
In his order dismissing the charges, Garnett wrote that the use of a firearm and the use of a weapon to murder require the elements of “during and in connection with” another federal crime to be considered a “crime of violence.”
Although these charges were based on stalking, Garnett found that they did not meet the legal definition of a “crime of violence,” noting that the legal standard is counterintuitive to the average person.
Mangione is scheduled to appear in court later on Jan. 30, when a representative for his defense team said statements about the new order will be made.
Massive legal battle unfolds after death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson
In separate state charges, Mr. Mangione has pleaded not guilty to murder, weapons and forgery charges in New York. He has been charged in the state with nine felonies, including second-degree murder, which could result in a sentence of 25 years to life in prison. In September, a judge dismissed state terrorism-related charges against Mangione. A trial date for the New York charges has not been set.
He also faces weapons and related charges in Pennsylvania, where he was arrested at the McDonald’s after a lengthy investigation and has pleaded not guilty.
Mangione is accused of using a 3D-printed “ghost gun” to shoot Thompson in the back in the early morning hours of December 4, 2024. Prosecutors argued that his writings showed “hostility” toward the health insurance industry. The violence drew harsh condemnation from political leaders, but also sparked a surge of support for Mangione. Supporters gathered outside his courtroom and donated to a fund for his legal costs.
(This story has been updated to add new information.)
