Luigi Mangione confesses to killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson
Luigi Mangione, the 28-year-old man accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, has confessed in a New York courtroom that he shot Thompson in December 2024. The admission came during a hearing on Friday, August 14, 2026, where Mangione pleaded guilty to federal stalking charges.
Speaking slowly and deliberately, Mangione told the court: "I shot Mr Thompson in Manhattan and he died. I knew what I was doing was illegal." The courtroom was packed with journalists, members of the public, and Thompson's family members.
Mangione, who had previously denied any role in the killing, explained his actions in a prepared statement. He said he had suffered a spinal injury in a 2022 surfing accident and encountered difficulties with the health insurance system. "After years of enduring severe pain from a broken back and navigating the obstacles of the health insurance system, I learned that UnitedHealthcare would be holding its annual investor conference in New York City," he stated.
The computer science graduate described how he obtained the conference venue by emailing UnitedHealthcare, posing as a firm with $50 million in assets. He told the court that he received a response within an hour, unlike his earlier interactions with insurers. He also detailed how he manufactured a firearm using a 3D printer and fitted it with a silencer and magazine.
"I traveled to New York with the intention to shoot Brian Thompson," he added.
The shooting occurred on December 4, 2024, outside a Hilton hotel in Manhattan. Surveillance footage showed a hooded gunman approaching Thompson from behind and shooting him. Thompson, who was wearing a suit, stumbled and turned to face his attacker before being shot again and collapsing on the pavement. The gunman fled.
Mangione was arrested five days later at a McDonald's restaurant in Pennsylvania after an employee recognised him from images released by authorities. A search of his backpack found a 3D-printed gun and a handwritten manifesto.
Prosecutor Dominic Gentile said that, had the case gone to trial, this evidence would have been presented. He also revealed that other footage showed Mangione stalking Thompson in Manhattan a day before the killing.
Throughout the hearing, Mangione appeared attentive, reading documents and taking notes. He answered the judge's questions with "Yes" or "I do" as they verified his competence to enter a guilty plea. He was represented by Karen Friedman Agnifilo and Marc Agnifilo, lawyers who previously represented Sean "Diddy" Combs in his sex trafficking trial.
The case has sparked intense public debate about the private healthcare system in the United States, with many expressing frustration over denied claims and rising costs. While some condemned the violence, others have shown sympathy for Mangione. An online legal fund for his defence has raised over $1.5 million, and supporters gathered outside the court during the hearing.
The hearing attracted significant attention, with dozens of journalists and curious onlookers filling the courtroom. One tourist, visiting New York for a wedding, told AFP that he had come after his baseball plans were cancelled. "I couldn't go to the baseball so I figured I'd come here," he said.
Mangione's guilty plea on federal stalking charges is a separate legal matter from any potential state charges related to the murder. The court will determine his sentence at a later date, and further proceedings are expected.
