Kathmandu— Luigi Mangione, 28, pleaded guilty Friday to federal stalking charges in connection with the December 2024 murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City. Mangione confessed in Manhattan federal court that he tracked Thompson to an investor conference and fatally shot him, revealing he manufactured a gun using a 3D printer and posed as an investor to gather information about the event. The plea comes with the prospect of a life prison sentence, scheduled for December 18th, though Mangione still faces separate state murder charges.

Details Of The Confession

Mangione calmly told the court he shot Thompson on the morning of December 4, 2024, in Manhattan. Paulette Thompson, the victim’s wife, was present and visibly emotional during the proceedings, wiping away tears as Mangione detailed his actions. He acknowledged understanding that a guilty plea could result in life imprisonment when questioned by U.S. District Judge Margaret M. Garnett.

Motivations And Background

According to authorities, Mangione, a University of Pennsylvania graduate from a wealthy Maryland family, claimed he was driven to the act after years of suffering severe back pain and struggling with the health insurance system. His lawyer, Karen Friedman Agnifilo, stated that Mangione “believed that the system had failed him and destroyed his life.” Surveillance footage showed the masked gunman shooting Thompson from behind, with ammunition bearing the words “delay,” “deny,” and “depose” – a reference to tactics used by insurers to avoid claims.

Legal Battles And Double Jeopardy

Federal prosecutors did not offer Mangione any plea deal. His legal team immediately sought to have the parallel New York state murder case dismissed on double jeopardy grounds, arguing that prosecuting him twice for the same “single tragic event” would be unjust. The Manhattan district attorney’s office intends to fight this motion and continue its prosecution. A previous federal murder charge was dropped earlier in the year.

Condemnation From Authorities

New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch strongly condemned any attempt to glorify Mangione, stating outside court, “To those who idolize Luigi Mangione, I say this. Violence is not a cause. Murder is not a message. And a killer is certainly not a hero.” U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that there should be “no celebrity in assassination.” Thompson’s family released a statement calling the plea an important step toward justice.

Thompson's Career And Impact

Brian Thompson, 50, had been CEO of UnitedHealthcare since 2021 after two decades with parent company UnitedHealth Group Inc. He was not widely known outside the health insurance industry and is survived by his wife and two sons. The company expressed gratitude to law enforcement for securing the guilty plea, noting that Thompson’s death “devastated everyone who knew and loved him.” Mangione had never been a customer of UnitedHealthcare.

Mangione's sentencing is scheduled for December 18th, where he faces a potential life prison term. The outcome of his lawyers’ motion to dismiss the state murder case remains uncertain.

(With inputs from AP)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.