Luigi Mangione pleaded guilty Friday to federal stalking charges stemming from the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, admitting in court that he shot Thompson and knew his actions were illegal.
Mangione told the court that he “shot Mr. Thompson and he died,” while acknowledging that he knew what he was doing was against the law.
The plea represents a major shift in the federal case after Mangione had previously pleaded not guilty to charges against him at both the federal and state levels.
Despite Friday’s guilty plea, Mangione is still facing a separate state prosecution, with his trial scheduled to begin in September.
In that case, Mangione faces charges of second-degree murder, criminal possession of a forged instrument and criminal possession of a weapon.
His defense attorneys are now attempting to use the federal guilty plea as grounds to have the state murder prosecution thrown out.
The defense argues that by pleading guilty to the federal charge of stalking resulting in death, Mangione has effectively admitted to murdering Thompson. His attorneys contend that continuing with the state murder prosecution would therefore violate the double jeopardy standard because Mangione has already been found guilty on the federal charge.
The state case, however, remains scheduled to proceed in September.
Mangione had previously faced the possibility of capital punishment in connection with the federal prosecution, but that option was removed earlier this year.
Judge Margaret Garnett dismissed two counts of the federal indictment in January, taking the death penalty off the table.
Mangione could still face life behind bars despite no longer facing capital punishment.
His sentencing on the federal charges has been scheduled for Dec. 18.
Friday’s plea adds another development to the separate federal and state cases stemming from Thompson’s killing, with Mangione’s attorneys now focusing on whether his admission in federal court can prevent prosecutors from moving forward with the state murder charge.
The defense’s argument centers on the nature of the federal offense. By admitting guilt to stalking resulting in death, Mangione’s attorneys maintain that he has already admitted responsibility for killing Thompson and therefore should not face another murder prosecution over the same death.
Mangione’s statement in court directly acknowledged his actions in Thompson’s death.
He said he shot Thompson, acknowledged that Thompson died and told the court that he understood what he was doing was illegal.
Whether the guilty plea ultimately affects the upcoming state prosecution remains at issue as Mangione prepares for the September trial.
For now, he continues to face the state charges of second-degree murder, criminal possession of a forged instrument and criminal possession of a weapon.
At the federal level, the possibility of a death sentence is gone, but Mangione could still receive life in prison when he returns to court for sentencing on Dec. 18.
