A New York state judge has dismissed the top terrorism-related charges against Luigi Mangione, the man accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. This ruling was announced during a pretrial hearing on Tuesday, September 16, 2025.
Key Details of the Ruling:
- Charges Dismissed: New York Supreme Court Justice Gregory Carro dismissed the state charges of first-degree murder in furtherance of an act of terrorism and second-degree murder as a crime of terrorism.
- Reason for Dismissal: The judge’s written decision stated that the prosecution had not presented legally sufficient evidence to support the claim that Mangione’s goal was to “intimidate and coerce a civilian population.” While the killing was “not an ordinary street crime” and was motivated by an “animus toward UHC, and the health care industry generally,” the evidence did not meet the specific legal standard for terrorism under New York law.
- Remaining Charges: Mangione still faces the state charge of intentional second-degree murder, as well as other related counts. This means he will still be tried for the killing of Brian Thompson in state court. The potential sentence on the remaining murder charge is 15 years to life, a reduction from the 25 years to life without the possibility of parole he faced with the terrorism charges.
Parallel Federal Case:
The dismissal of the state terrorism charges does not affect the separate federal case against Mangione.
- Federal Charges: In the federal case, Mangione is charged with murder with the use of a firearm and stalking. Federal prosecutors, led by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, have announced they are seeking the death penalty, calling the killing a “premeditated, cold-blooded assassination” and an “act of political violence.”
- Double Jeopardy Argument: Mangione’s lawyers have argued that facing both state and federal charges for the same crime amounts to double jeopardy, a claim the judge in the state case rejected as premature.
Background of the Case:
Luigi Mangione, a 27-year-old Ivy League graduate, is accused of shooting and killing Brian Thompson on December 4, 2024, outside a New York City hotel. Authorities allege the killing was motivated by anger toward the healthcare industry. After a five-day manhunt, Mangione was arrested at a McDonald’s in Pennsylvania. In his possession, police found a handwritten document described as a “manifesto” and a confession.
What’s Next:
The judge has scheduled pretrial hearings for the state case to begin on December 1. A trial date has not yet been set for either the state or federal case. The dismissal of the terrorism charges is seen as a significant victory for Mangione’s defense team, though he still faces the possibility of a life sentence in the state case and the death penalty in the federal case.
