Mangione, pictured here in May, appeared in court in New York on Friday<\/p>\n
Luigi Mangione has admitted to killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson after pleading guilty to federal charges of interstate stalking resulting in death.<\/p>\n
"I shot Mr Thompson in Manhattan and he died," the 28-year-old admitted in Manhattan federal court on Friday.<\/p>\n
Thompson, a 50-year-old father of two, was shot from behind on 4 December, 2024 as he walked into a hotel in midtown Manhattan. Following the plea hearing, his family issued a statement calling it "an important step toward justice for Brian and for our family".<\/p>\n
Mangione faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. He also faces state charges, although his lawyers are seeking to get those dismissed following his guilty plea.<\/p>\n
"I shot Mr Thompson" – Inside the court as Mangione pleaded guilty<\/p>\n
Mangione had initially pleaded not guilty in both the federal and state cases against him for the shooting death of Thompson.<\/p>\n
At a hearing in Manhattan federal court on Friday, Mangione's lawyers announced that he intended to plead guilty to the two federal charges against him.<\/p>\n
Wearing a beige prison outfit, Mangione appeared solemn and serious throughout the hearing.<\/p>\n
Reading a statement aloud to the court, he admitted to planning the attack ahead of time, crossing state lines with the intent to kill and using a gun he printed on a 3-D-printer and equipped with a silencer and magazine.<\/p>\n
He told the court he was driven to kill Thompson because of his experience with the healthcare system "after years of enduring severe pains from a broken back".<\/p>\n
Mangione stated that he had learned UnitedHealthcare would hold an annual investor conference in Manhattan in December 2024.<\/p>\n
He then travelled to New York for the event, he told the court.<\/p>\n
He also said he emailed UnitedHealthcare prior to the conference "posing as an investor" and asking questions about the event.<\/p>\n
"I emailed UnitedHealthcare with the intent to shoot Brian Thompson," Mangione said in his statement. "On the morning of Dec. 4, 2024 I shot Mr. Thompson in Manhattan in his back."<\/p>\n