Luigi Mangione Pleads Guilty to Stalking in UnitedHealthcare CEO Killing

The defendant detailed his calculated approach, admitting he contacted the firm under the guise of an investor to gather information about the event. Surveillance footage previously captured the moment a masked gunman approached Thompson from behind, firing shots onto ammunition etched with the words "delay," "deny," and "depose"—a direct critique of insurance industry practices. Mangione stated he acted after enduring chronic pain from a broken back, framing his actions as a response to systemic obstacles.

Defense attorney Karen Friedman confirmed that her client accepts full responsibility for the death of the 50-year-old executive. By entering a guilty plea in federal court for stalking, the defense team intends to challenge the pending New York state murder charges. They plan to argue that a state trial would violate double jeopardy protections, contending that the defendant should not face two separate prosecutions for a single incident. The hearing proceeded under heavy security, with supporters gathered outside the Manhattan courthouse as a helicopter monitored the scene.