Luigi Mangione Changes His Plea and Makes Stunning Admission

Pool / Jeenah Moon, Getty Images Luigi Mangione has admitted to shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson dead on a New York sidewalk—a stunning admission that comes as he flips his not-guilty plea to guilty.

Mangione, 28, pleaded guilty to federal stalking charges but is still staring down a second-degree murder charge in New York state court.

However, his fate of decades behind bars, if not a lifetime, appears to be sealed by Friday’s admission.

“I shot Mr.

Thompson in Manhattan,” Mangione told the judge.

“I understood that my actions would place him in fear of death or bodily injury.

I knew what I was doing was illegal.” The New York Times , which had reporters present in the courtroom, reported that Mangione “appeared relaxed” and “has shown virtually no emotion during the proceeding.” It added that the killer “answered questions solemnly and clearly.” Mangione will be sentenced on his federal stalking charges on Dec.

18.

Before that, he is due to stand trial in New York state court in September.

His lawyers say they will argue that the federal case triggers double jeopardy, which would bar the government from trying him twice for the same crime.

Both of the charges Mangione pleaded guilty to Friday—interstate stalking resulting in death and stalking through use of interstate facilities resulting in death—carry a maximum sentence of life behind bars.

Thompson’s loved ones, including his wife, were in court on Friday.

Thompson, 50, a father of two, was executed in Manhattan on the morning of Dec.

4, 2024.