Luigi Mangione Pleads Guilty to Federal Charges in UnitedHealthcare CEO's Fatal Shooting

Luigi Mangione attends a pre-trial appearance at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City on August 11, 2026 in New York City. —David Dee Delgado—Pool/Getty Images Luigi Mangione on Friday pleaded guilty to both federal stalking charges against him in connection with the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, admitting in court that he shot the healthcare executive in 2024.

Mangione pleaded guilty to two charges that each carry a possible life sentence: interstate stalking resulting in death and stalking through use of interstate facilities resulting in death.

The judge accepted his plea.

“I shot Mr.

Thompson in Manhattan,” Mangione told the judge on Friday, according to the New York Times.

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

I knew what I was doing was illegal.” He said he had 3-D printed a gun and attached a silencer.

Mangione did not face murder charges in federal court.

The federal judge on Friday set a hearing date of Dec.

18 for Mangione’s sentencing.

The guilty plea marks a remarkable shift in Mangione’s defense, as he had previously pleaded not guilty to all the federal and state charges he was facing.

Thompson's family said in a statement shared with news outlets after the hearing on Friday that Mangione's guilty plea "marks an important step toward justice for Brian and for our family." “While nothing will ease the pain of losing him, we are grateful that the federal justice system has held the person responsible for this heinous act accountable,” the family said.

“Now we look to the court to ensure the sentencing reflects the severity of this crime.” UnitedHealth Group, the parent company of United Healthcare, also shared a statement after Friday's hearing, saying: "Brian Thompson's life was cut short by an act of violence that devastated everyone who knew and loved him.

We are grateful to law enforcement for bringing Brian's murderer to justice, and our thoughts remain with Brian's family and loved ones during this difficult time." Mangione, 28, was arrested in December 2024 on suspicion of fatally shooting Thompson in New York City five days earlier while the health executive was walking to a conference.