Judge Dismisses Terrorism Charges in UnitedHealthcare CEO Shooting
Manhattan – โคA New York judge has dismissed terrorism-related charges against Luigi Mangione, the man accused of fatally โshooting UnitedHealthcare CEO โBrianโ Thompson in Midtown last โDecember. Justice Gregory Carro โคruled that prosecutors failed to demonstrate Mangione intended to intimidate or โcoerce theโฃ public, a requirement under New York’s terrorism statutes.
The dismissal removes the possibility of โa life-without-parole sentence, though Mangione still faces a second-degree murder charge.
Mangione, โค27, has pleaded not guilty inโข bothโฃ state and federal cases related to the December 4, 2024, killing of Thompson, โฃwho was shot asโ he โขarrived for a conference at the Newโค York Hilton. Federal prosecutors are seeking the death penalty, alleging the shootingโ was a premeditated assassination motivated by โpolitical animus toward theโค health careโ industry.
Authoritiesโค found ammunition โat the scene marked with โขtermsโ – “Delay,” “Deny,” and “Depose” – โฃthat prosecutors argue reference the book Delay, โฃDeny, โคdefend, a critique of the โinsurance industry.
Theโ defense โฃhas argued theโข dual state and federal prosecutions constitute double jeopardy and that evidence obtained during Mangione’s arrest in Pennsylvania was unlawfullyโ collected. Justiceโ Carro stated it was premature to rule on these constitutional claims.
Theโ case has garnered public attention, with โฃMangione attracting support from criticsโฃ of the health insuranceโ industry. Supporters, referencing theโ Super Mario Bros. character Luigi, gathered โoutside theโฃ courthouse Tuesday โคand cheered as the defenseโ team left the hearing.
Pretrial hearings in the state case are scheduled for December 1, shortly before Mangione’s โnext federal court appearance. Justice Carro was appointed to theโฃ bench inโข 1997 by then-Mayor โRudy Giuliani and hasโค a reputationโ forโฃ beingโค tough on crime.