Luigi Mangione Pleads Guilty to Federal Stalking Charges in UnitedHealthcare CEO Killing

Luigi Mangione, 28, pleaded guilty on Friday, August 14, 2026, to federal stalking charges connected to the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside a Hilton hotel in midtown Manhattan in 2024. The plea was entered during a pretrial conference before U.S. District Judge Margaret Garnett. Prior to the hearing, reports noted a hurriedly scheduled proceeding had fueled speculation that Mangione might change his plea, after he had previously pleaded not guilty in both the federal and state cases. Mangione admitted to stalking and shooting Thompson, according to one report detailing his account of events. He faced two federal stalking counts, and the guilty plea leaves him potentially facing life in prison. Separately, Mangione still faces state murder and weapons charges in New York tied to Thompson's killing, with that trial slated to begin September 8, 2026. Sources agree both the federal and state cases carry the possibility of a life sentence. The status of the state case remains unresolved, as it was still pending trial at the time of the federal plea. It is not confirmed across sources what specific motive Mangione cited, though one report indicated he disclosed a motive for the killing; other outlets did not corroborate details of that explanation. The exact terms of any plea agreement, including sentencing specifics, were not detailed across multiple sources.