'I knew what I was doing': Luigi Mangione pleads guilty to shooting health insurance chief

Luigi Mangione confessed himself a cold-blooded killer on Friday when he pleaded guilty to two charges in federal court in his case relating to the shooting death of UnitedHealthCare executive Brian Thompson.

"I shot Mr. Thompson in Manhattan and he died," Mangione told U.S. District Judge Margaret Garnett, who had warned him if he pleaded guilty he could be sentenced to life in prison on each of two counts.

The counts were for stalking Thompson and intent to kill him.

The guilty plea makes a trial in the case unnecessary, and also provided a path for Mangione to seek dismissal of state murder charges for the same attack, although state prosecutors say their case still should move forward.

His lawyer, Karen Friedman Agnifilo, confirmed there was no plea agreement with prosecutors over issues like their recommendation for sentencing.

Thompson was chief of UHC's insurance unit at the time he was shot and killed Dec. 4, 2024, outside a hotel where a company conference was being held.

The 28-year-old Mangione said he researched the conference after being provoked by a broken back and his navigation of the health insurance system.

Mangione previously has pleaded not guilty to murder, weapons and stalking charges.

Garnett earlier threw out federal murder charges on a technicality, eliminating the prosecutors' option for seeking the death penalty on federal charges.

He separately has pleaded not guilty to state terrorism, murder, weapons and forgery counts.