NYC Judge Dismisses Terrorism Charges, Murder Charge Stands in UnitedHealthcare CEO Killing

<img src="https://media.tegna-media.com/assets/CCT/images/d3e08527-f231-4c9c-aa21-b0c6f24d2704/20250425T174842/d3e08527-f231-4c9c-aa21-b0c6f24d2704_750x422.jpg" alt="Luigi Mangione">

A New York judge dismissed terrorism charges against Luigi Mangione, the Ivy League graduate accused of murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. However, the second-degree murder charges remain.

Double Jeopardy Argument Rejected

Mangione's legal team argued that the state case and a parallel federal death penalty case constituted double jeopardy. Judge Gregory Carro rejected this, stating it was premature to make such a determination before trial.

The Case Against Mangione

Mangione, who has gained a cult following, is accused of the December 4, 2024 killing of Thompson. Surveillance footage shows a masked gunman shooting Thompson. The words "delay," "deny," and "depose"—terms associated with insurance claim denials—were found scrawled on the ammunition.

The judge ruled that while Mangione's actions were clearly motivated by animus towards the healthcare industry, it didn't meet the legal definition of terrorism under New York law, as there was no evidence of an intent to intimidate or coerce a civilian population.

Federal Case and Death Penalty

The federal case, which seeks the death penalty, is proceeding separately. US Attorney General Pam Bondi described the killing as "an act of political violence" and a "premeditated, cold-blooded assassination." The Manhattan district attorney's office cited Mangione's diary entries and a confession in their case against him. These writings expressed his desire to kill an insurance executive and praised the Unabomber, suggesting an ideological motive.

Next Steps

Pretrial hearings in the state case are scheduled for December 1, shortly before Mangione's next federal court appearance. The state charges carry a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. The legal battle continues.