On September 16, a New York judge dismissed terrorism charges against Luigi Mangione, a 27-year-old Ivy League graduate accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in December 2024.
Judge Gregory Carro ruled that prosecutors had insufficient evidence to prove that the killing was intended to “intimidate and coerce a civilian population.” The decision removes the most serious state charges, removing the possibility of a mandatory life sentence without parole.
While Mangione still faces a second-degree murder charge in the state case, which carries a potential penalty of 15 years to life, he also faces a separate federal trial, where prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.
Mangione, arrested five days after the killing, has pleaded not guilty. His lawyers argue that facing both state and federal cases risks double jeopardy, though Carro said it was too early to make that determination. Pretrial hearings in the New York case are scheduled for December 1, just days before Mangione is due back in federal court.
This particular case is a complex web of chilling precision, possible motives, and a calculated escape. Click through the following gallery to find a detailed breakdown of everything known so far about the investigation, evidence, and search for justice in this riveting case.