A New York judge has dismissed two murder charges against Luigi Mangione, who is accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. The decision came on Tuesday during a court hearing where Judge Gregory Carro ruled that the evidence presented to the grand jury did not support the terrorism-related charges.
Mangione, 27, faces serious allegations stemming from the December 4 shooting of Thompson, who was shot from behind while walking near a hotel in Midtown Manhattan. This incident triggered a significant manhunt. Although the terrorism charges were dropped, Mangione still faces a second-degree murder charge.
During the hearing, Mangione made his first court appearance in five months. He was arrested shortly after the shooting. His defense team argued that the New York state charges should be dismissed, claiming that pursuing both federal and state charges could violate the principle of double jeopardy. However, the judge deemed the defense’s argument “premature.”
In addition to the state charges, Mangione has been indicted on multiple federal charges, including murder through the use of a firearm, which could make him eligible for the death penalty. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi stated that the Department of Justice intends to pursue this penalty, asserting that Thompson’s murder was an act of political violence.
Mangione was apprehended at a McDonald’s in Pennsylvania, just five days after the shooting. Authorities found a backpack with him that allegedly contained the murder weapon, a fake ID, and a diary. The diary reportedly includes troubling entries about targeting Thompson, describing the act as “targeted” and “precise.”
The case is set to continue with hearings scheduled to begin on December 1, though no trial date has been established yet. Mangione has pleaded not guilty to all charges in both New York and Pennsylvania.
