A federal district judge has ruled that Luigi Mangione will not face the death penalty for allegedly killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in December 2024.
As widely reported, Thompson, 50, was fatally shot by a masked gunman on December 4, 2024, just hours before he was set to speak at UnitedHealth Group’s investor conference.
The assailant fled the scene on a bike, riding it into Central Park. The shooting prompted an intense manhunt.
Days later, a McDonald’s employee in Altoona, Pennsylvania, reported seeing a man who matched the shooter’s description.
Authorities later confirmed that the individual was Mangione. After his arrest, he was flown to New York under tight security, with heavily armed police and a media entourage waiting for his arrival.
Judge’s Ruling on Death Penalty
On Friday (January 30), a federal district judge ruled that Mangione will not face the death penalty.
The decision marks a significant loss for federal prosecutors, who had been determined to pursue the death penalty in this high-profile case.
The ruling came after the judge dismissed the murder charge against the 27-year-old, which had initially carried the potential for the death sentence.
According to CNN, prosecutors had contended that the killing occurred during a “crime of violence,” citing two stalking charges against Mangione. They also argued that the suspect had stalked Thompson online and traveled across state lines to carry out the murder.
However, Judge Margaret Garnett disagreed with the prosecution’s assessment, stating that stalking does not qualify as a “crime of violence” under federal law.
As a result, the judge dismissed both the murder charge and a related firearm offense from the federal case.
Continuing Legal Proceedings
While the death penalty is off the table, Mangione still faces two counts of stalking, which could lead to a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted.
Jury selection for the federal trial is set to begin on September 8, with opening statements scheduled for October 13.