A New York state judge on Tuesday dismissed first-degree murder charges carrying a terrorism enhancement against Luigi Mangione, ruling that prosecutors had not provided sufficient evidence to support claims the killing was intended as an act of terrorism.
The decision represents a setback for Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, though Mangione will still face trial on second-degree murder charges and several additional counts.
Terrorism allegation rejected
Judge Gregory Carro determined during a brief hearing that prosecutors failed to show Mangione’s alleged actions were carried out to intimidate health-care workers or coerce the public.
The case centers on the fatal shooting of Brian Thompson, a health-care executive with UnitedHealth Group Inc., outside a midtown Manhattan hotel in 2024.
Prosecutors had argued that Mangione targeted Thompson to highlight discontent with the health-care sector and to intimidate those working in the industry.
However, Carro’s written opinion pointed to Mangione’s manifesto, which prosecutors submitted as evidence.
The judge noted that the writings showed Mangione’s goal was to draw attention to what he viewed as the “greed of the insurance industry,” rather than to threaten or coerce employees.
“There was no evidence presented that defendant’s conscious objective or intent was to intimidate or coerce the employees of United Healthcare,” Carro wrote, emphasizing that the terrorism component was unsupported.
Federal charges still loom
While the ruling spares Mangione the prospect of life imprisonment without parole under state terrorism statutes, the 27-year-old continues to face a parallel federal case.
Earlier this year, US Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that federal prosecutors would pursue the death penalty, describing the killing as a “premeditated, cold-blooded assassination.”
Mangione’s federal charges stem from the same incident and include murder allegations tied to the shooting of Thompson, who served as chief executive of UnitedHealth’s insurance unit.
Authorities say Mangione allegedly waited outside the hotel hosting UnitedHealth’s investor day before fatally shooting Thompson with a 3D-printed ghost gun.
The brazen attack and subsequent manhunt, which ended with Mangione’s arrest at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, drew national attention.
At the time of his arrest, police reported that Mangione was carrying a manifesto criticizing the health-care industry, along with notes discussing the idea of targeting a corporate leader.
Ongoing case and market implications
The case underscores both the security challenges facing corporate leaders and the heightened scrutiny of health-care companies, particularly insurance providers, in the current political and social environment.
UnitedHealth, one of the largest players in the US health-care sector, has been at the center of debates over affordability and access to care.
Although the court’s dismissal of the terrorism enhancement narrows the scope of the state prosecution, Mangione still faces nine counts, including second-degree murder.
A spokesperson for Bragg’s office, Danielle Filson, said the district attorney would continue to pursue the remaining charges.
Mangione, appearing in court in a prison jumpsuit, waved to supporters during the proceedings.
His defense attorneys declined to comment following the ruling.
The next phase of the legal process will likely shift focus to the federal proceedings, where prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.
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