What happened?
A New York judge on Tuesday dismissed terrorism-related murder charges against Luigi Mangione, the 27-year-old accused of assassinating UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in December 2024. Judge Gregory Carro ruled that evidence presented to the grand jury was “legally insufficient” to support first-degree murder in furtherance of terrorism or terrorism-related second-degree murder.
What charges remain?
Mangione still faces second-degree murder at the state level, along with multiple federal charges where prosecutors are pursuing the death penalty. His state trial is set for December 1 in Manhattan. If convicted, he could face 25 years to life.
Why it matters
The case has become one of the most polarizing in recent U.S. history, merging political violence with outrage at the health insurance industry. Mangione’s supporters — many of them young activists — have branded him a folk hero, while critics see him as a cold-blooded killer. Outside Tuesday’s hearing, protesters waved Italian flags and wore T-shirts reading “FREE LUIGI”.
Background
Thompson was shot and killed outside a Manhattan hotel on December 4, 2024. Mangione allegedly tracked him for days before the attack, fleeing on a bicycle after firing with a silenced pistol. He was arrested five days later in Pennsylvania after a McDonald’s staff tip-off.
What’s next?
Mangione will return to state court in December, while his federal case — where the death penalty is still on the table — looms large. His attorneys continue to argue that fighting simultaneous trials could violate his rights, but the judge rejected calls to pause the state case.
