Luigi Mangione, 26, pleaded not guilty in a Manhattan federal courtroom Friday to charges tied to the December 2024 killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson—an assassination that has rocked the nation’s healthcare and political spheres.
The charges, filed in the Southern District of New York, include stalking, murder, use of interstate travel and electronic communications in the commission of a violent crime, and use of a firearm in the fatal attack.
If convicted of murder with a firearm, Mangione could face the death penalty—a possibility the Department of Justice confirmed it is actively pursuing.
The case marks a significant shift in federal criminal justice strategy, as the Biden-era moratorium on capital punishment appears to be giving way to a renewed embrace of the death penalty under President Donald Trump’s administration.
Mangione’s court appearance was striking. Calm and composed, he entered the courtroom in a tan prison jumpsuit and shackles. The proceeding drew a packed crowd of over 100 people, many appearing to support him.
Outside, demonstrations echoed the polarization surrounding the case. Some carried signs like “Free Luigi” and “No Death for Luigi Mangione,” while others mocked or condemned him, including one protester who brought a