In brief
Luigi Mangione, charged with the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, has had two federal charges dismissed by US District Judge Margaret Garnett, including the one that could have led to the death penalty. While he pleads not guilty to remaining charges, jury selection is set to begin in September, with state prosecutors aiming for an earlier trial. Significant evidence, including items found in Mangione's backpack, could be presented at trial.
A federal judge has ruled that Luigi Mangione will not face the death penalty if convicted of the murder of Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare.
U.S. District Judge Margaret Garnett dismissed two of the four federal charges against the 27-year-old Mangione, including the charge of murder through the use of a firearm, which previously carried the potential for the death sentence.
Mangione was arrested shortly after the alleged shooting incident in December 2024, where he reportedly shot Thompson while he was entering a conference on a busy street in Manhattan.
He has pleaded not guilty to the remaining charges, which include two federal counts of stalking, as well as separate murder charges at the state level.
Upcoming court proceedings have scheduled jury selection for the federal trial to begin on September 8, with opening statements expected on October 13. Meanwhile, state prosecutors are targeting a trial date as soon as July 1.
In her ruling, Judge Garnett explained that the two dismissed charges did not meet the legal definition of a 'crime of violence.' She emphasized that her decision was made to prevent the death penalty from being an option for the jury to consider.
Importantly, Judge Garnett confirmed that the prosecution would be allowed to present evidence obtained from Mangione's backpack at the time of his arrest, which included a ghost gun, fake IDs, and a notebook detailing his grievances with the health care system.
Defense attorneys have contested this evidence, arguing that it was obtained through an illegal search. Additionally, Mangione faces nine charges in a separate state case, including second-degree murder.
