On Friday, Luigi Mangione appeared at a surprise hearing in Manhattan federal court in order to change his plea from “not guilty” to “guilty” for two charges involving the death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. During the hearing, he read a lengthy statement about how he stalked and killed Brian Thompson, the United Healthcare CEO, on the streets of Midtown Manhattan in December 2024. He also spoke about his experiences navigating the healthcare industry, in what have been his most lengthy public statements to date.
“I’m going to ask you now to tell me in your own words what you did that makes you believe that you are guilty of these charges,” Judge Margaret Garnett told Mangione on Friday morning. She reminded Mangione to read slowly and told him he could stand, although he said he wished to remain seated.
“After years of enduring severe pain from a broken back, navigating the obstacles of the health insurance system and witnessing similar experiences of countless others,” said Mangione, reading stoically and methodically. “I learned that United Healthcare would be holding its annual investor conference in New York City on Dec. 4, 2024, although the specific location was not publicly disclosed.”
Thompson’s family, who sat in the front row behind federal prosecutors, looked over at Mangione as he read his own words. They were emotional throughout the proceeding, consoling each other at times. Mangione said that he researched the investor conference online and observed that the attendees were not doctors, nurses, and patients but company executives and investors.
“In November of 2024, I traveled from outside of New York State to Manhattan,” continued Mangione. “I then emailed UnitedHealthcare leadership posing as an investor at a firm managing over $50 billion in assets and requesting information about the conference. Unlike my previous interactions with insurers, I received an immediate response within an hour.”
This is the first indication of such an email, and first report that Mangione posed as an investor in order to find out where the UHC conference would be held. Mangione added that he used a 3D printer to make a gun, adding a silencer and magazine. His lead attorney Karen Friedman Agnifilo looked at him intently as he recited the words, offering him support throughout the hearing.
“My travel to New York and email to United Healthcare was with the intent to shoot Brian Thompson,” said Mangione. “On the morning of Dec. 4, 2024, I shot Mr. Thompson in Manhattan and he died. When I did so, I understood that my actions would place him in fear of death or serious bodily injury. I knew what I was doing was illegal.”
Following his statement, Judge Garnett scheduled a sentencing hearing for Dec. 18. Immediately after his federal hearing was over, Mangione’s lawyers filed a motion for his New York state murder charges to be dismissed, arguing that it would constitute double jeopardy, a Fifth Amendment clause that prevents a person from being tried for the same crime twice. State prosecutors will be given the chance to respond to the defense’s motion, then New York Supreme Court Judge Gregory Carro will decide what happens with Mangione’s New York state trial, which is currently set to begin in September.
