A New York judge has dismissed terrorism charges against Luigi Mangione in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, while keeping murder charges intact. Judge Gregory Carro ruled that Mangione’s ideological motives alone don’t qualify as terrorism under state law.
The 27-year-old Mangione still faces second-degree murder charges for the December 4, 2024, shooting of Thompson outside a Manhattan hotel. If convicted on these remaining charges, he could face up to life in prison.
“While the defendant was clearly expressing an animus toward UHC, and the health care industry generally, it does not follow that his goal was to ‘intimidate and coerce a civilian population,'” Judge Carro wrote in his decision. He added that there was “no evidence presented of such a goal,” which is required under New York’s terrorism law.
Mangione was arrested five days after the shooting at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, about 370 kilometers west of New York City. He has pleaded not guilty to both state and federal charges and remains in custody at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.
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Prosecutors say surveillance video captured a masked gunman shooting Thompson from behind as the executive arrived for an investor conference at the New York Hilton Midtown. Police found “delay,” “deny,” and “depose” written on ammunition — phrases commonly associated with insurance claim disputes.
Court documents reference Mangione’s writings, where prosecutors say he expressed a desire to kill an insurance executive and praised Ted Kaczynski, known as the Unabomber. In these writings, prosecutors claim Mangione wrote about rebelling against “the deadly, greed-fueled health insurance cartel” and that killing an industry executive “conveys a greedy bastard that had it coming.”
The case is unusual for its parallel state and federal prosecutions. Mangione’s lawyers argued this creates a “legal quagmire” that amounts to double jeopardy. Judge Carro rejected this argument as premature, as neither case has gone to trial yet.
The federal case, which could result in the death penalty, alleges Mangione stalked Thompson but doesn’t include terrorism charges. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced in April that federal prosecutors would seek the death penalty for what she described as “an act of political violence” and a “premeditated, cold-blooded assassination.”
Despite widespread condemnation of the killing, Mangione has attracted supporters who view him as a symbol of frustration with high healthcare costs. At his court appearance, about two dozen people — mostly young women — secured seats in the courtroom. One wore a black T-shirt with “Free Luigi” written in white letters. Outside, supporters gathered with some dressed in green, the color of the Nintendo character Luigi, while others held an Italian flag with “Healthcare is a human right” written on it.
The judge scheduled pre-trial hearings for December 1 in the state case, just days before Mangione is due in court for the federal case. The defense is seeking to suppress evidence from Mangione’s backpack, including the gun and notebook, claiming an unlawful search.
Trial dates have not yet been set in either the state or federal case. The dismissal of terrorism charges came just days after the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk in Utah, an event that has raised concerns about political violence in the United States.
