Mangione pleads guilty to federal charges in CEO killing

Luigi Mangione pleaded guilty on Friday, August 14, 2026, to federal stalking charges in the 2024 killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, providing his first detailed public account of the assassination. Appearing in a Manhattan federal court, the 28-year-old admitted to planning and executing the fatal shooting of the insurance executive on a New York City street, acknowledging he knew his actions were illegal and could result in a life sentence.

According to court statements, Mangione said he plotted the attack for years after enduring severe pain from a broken back and struggling with the health insurance system. He told the court he researched UnitedHealthcare's investor conference online, then posed as a wealthy investor to obtain details about the event from the company. In November 2024, he traveled to New York and used a 3D printer to make part of a firearm, which he equipped with a silencer. On the morning of December 4, 2024, he shot Thompson, 50, from behind outside the New York Hilton Midtown as the CEO arrived for the conference. Thompson, a father of two, died from his injuries.

Federal prosecutors indicated they will seek a life sentence at Mangione’s...