A federal judge in New York has dismissed murder and weapons charges against Luigi Mangione, the man accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, ensuring he will not face the death penalty. This ruling delivers a significant setback to federal prosecutors.
Court Decision Details
US District Judge Margaret Garnett in Manhattan determined that Supreme Court precedents required the dismissal of the murder charge, as it conflicts with the two remaining stalking charges against Mangione. The judge noted that while the outcome might seem perplexing to the public, legal constraints left her no choice. Mangione, aged 27, now faces potential life imprisonment without parole if convicted on the stalking counts.
During a court hearing, federal prosecutor Dominic Gentile informed Judge Garnett that authorities have yet to decide on an appeal. In a detailed 39-page ruling, Garnett explained that federal prosecutors could only advance the murder and weapons charges if the stalking offenses qualified as “crimes of violence.” She concluded they did not, since the force involved could stem from reckless rather than intentional actions, failing to meet the Supreme Court’s standards.
Garnett highlighted the “apparent absurdity” of the situation, emphasizing that Mangione’s alleged actions—traveling across state lines to shoot a healthcare executive with a silenced handgun—clearly constitute violent crime. However, she stressed that her duty is to apply the law strictly, regardless of how unusual the result appears to ordinary observers or legal professionals.
Case Background
Brian Thompson, who headed UnitedHealth Group’s health insurance operations, was fatally shot on December 4, 2024, outside a Hilton hotel in midtown Manhattan. Mangione entered a not guilty plea to all related charges and has remained in custody since his arrest in Pennsylvania five days after the incident.
Although public figures universally denounced the killing, Mangione has garnered sympathy from segments of the public frustrated with escalating healthcare costs and insurance practices, positioning him as an unlikely folk hero.
Trial Timeline and Additional Charges
Jury selection for the federal case is set to commence in September, with the trial’s evidence presentation starting on October 12. Separately, Mangione has pleaded not guilty to state-level murder, weapons, and forgery charges in Manhattan, though no trial date has been established. State prosecutors encountered their own challenge in September when the judge dismissed two terrorism-related counts.
Evidence Ruling
In another decision, Judge Garnett denied Mangione’s request to suppress evidence from his backpack seized at the time of his arrest. The backpack contained a 9-millimeter pistol, a silencer, and journal entries. Mangione contended that the search violated his rights due to the lack of a warrant. The judge ruled that such searches of closed bags for potential hazards are routine for local police, supported by probable cause, and that the items would have surfaced anyway under a federal warrant.
