The attorneys representing the man accused of murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson told a judge Friday morning he intends to plead guilty in the federal trial against him, according to a report from CNN.
Luigi Mangione, 28, of Maryland, was charged in Thompson’s Dec. 4, 2024 slaying after a five-day manhunt. Thompson was killed in New York City on the date of UnitedHealth Group’s investor day, which he was slated to attend.
Mangione faces charges in both federal and New York state court. The hearing Friday morning was a surprise addition to the docket, and media reports from most national outlets cited sources suggested he would plead guilty to the federal charges.
In federal court, he faces two charges of stalking that led to Thompson’s death, which could carry a life sentence. Federal terrorism charges, which carried the death penalty, were tossed earlier by the courts.
The state case, where Mangione faces second-degree murder charges, is set to start in early September. Legal experts have suggested that accepting a plea deal in the federal case could allow him to avoid the state case due to double jeopardy, the New York Times reported.
CNN also reported that Thompson’s family attended the hearing on Friday morning, the first time that they have appeared in court during Mangione’s ongoing legal case.
This is a developing story and will be updated.