Luigi Mangione Has State Terrorism Charges Dropped in UnitedHealthcare CEO Murder Case
A Manhattan judge has dismissed two state terrorism charges against Luigi Mangione, the 27-year-old accused in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, ruling that prosecutors failed to meet the legal threshold for terrorism-related crimes.
The decision, delivered Tuesday by Judge Gregory Carro during a pre-trial hearing in Manhattan Criminal Court, narrows the state’s case but leaves serious charges, including second-degree murder, intact as the proceedings move toward trial.
Mangione, who faces both state and federal charges in the December 2024 killing outside a Manhattan hotel, could still spend decades in prison if convicted.
In his written opinion, Judge Carro explained that the facts of the case, while “heinous,” did not meet the legal definition of terrorism under New York law.
“There was no evidence presented of a desire to terrorize the public, inspire widespread fear, engage in a broader campaign of violence, or to conspire with organized terrorist groups. Here, the crime — the heinous, but targeted and discrete killing of one person — is very different from the examples of terrorism set forth in the statute.”
Prosecutors had argued that Mangione intended to “violently broadcast a social and political message to the public at large,” but the judge disagreed, dismissing both charges of murder in the first degree in furtherance of an act of terrorism and murder in the second degree as a crime of terrorism as legally insufficient.
The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, while acknowledging the court’s decision, emphasized that the remaining charges still carry heavy penalties. Eight of the counts are weapons-related charges.
“We respect the Court’s decision and will proceed on the remaining nine counts, including murder in the second degree.”
Tuesday’s hearing drew considerable attention, with members of the press, the public, and Mangione’s vocal supporters crowding the Manhattan courtroom. Some carried signs outside, chanting as they awaited news of the judge’s ruling.
Mangione, shackled and wearing a tan prison uniform, entered the courtroom shortly before 9:30 a.m., briefly glancing toward the gallery before staring straight ahead. As he exited, he acknowledged his supporters with raised eyebrows — once toward the defense’s first row inside the courtroom, and again as he passed reporters and spectators outside.
His supporters later trailed behind his defense team as the attorneys left the courthouse, underscoring the attention this case has drawn since the high-profile arrest.
The December killing of Brian Thompson shocked both the business world and the Manhattan community where it occurred. Federal prosecutors have also charged Mangione, and those charges carry the potential for the death penalty — a key distinction from the state case, where the maximum sentence for second-degree murder is 25 years to life.
Mangione has pleaded not guilty in both jurisdictions. His defense attorneys have argued that trying him in both courts amounts to double jeopardy. Still, Judge Carro rejected that request in Tuesday’s ruling, allowing the state case to proceed alongside the federal one. Several legal battles remain unresolved as the December 1 hearings approach.
Defense attorneys are seeking to suppress evidence recovered from Mangione’s backpack — including a firearm and a notebook — alleging the search was conducted without a warrant. Prosecutors deny this and have asked the court to require the defense to disclose whether they plan to pursue an insanity defense or introduce psychiatric evidence at trial.
Judge Carro has yet to rule on either matter, but confirmed that upcoming hearings will address the admissibility of physical evidence, police statements, and whether a non-witness expert can testify.
The killing of Thompson, who led one of the nation’s largest health insurance companies, has generated intense public interest, with media outlets across the country following each development. Tuesday’s ruling marks a turning point in the state case, removing the most severe charges but leaving a long legal road ahead for both sides.
For now, all eyes are on the December 1 hearings, where key evidence and legal strategies will be presented before the case proceeds to trial.
Moumita Basuroychowdhury is a Contributing Reporter at The National Digest. After earning an economics degree at Cornell University, she moved to NYC to pursue her MFA in creative writing. She enjoys reporting on science, business and culture news. You can reach her at moumita.b@thenationaldigest.com.