Luigi Mangione abandons mental health defense plans for now in UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson murder case | Today’s news
Luigi Mangione, the man accused of fatally shooting a health insurance executive on a Manhattan sidewalk, has temporarily abandoned plans to present evidence in court that he was suffering from a severe mental crisis at the time of the alleged attack, according to Reuters.
A 28-year-old man is accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside a midtown Manhattan hotel in December 2024. While the shooting was widely condemned by public officials, the case also highlighted growing public frustration with health care costs and practices within the health insurance industry.
Mangione pleaded not guilty in December 2024 to several charges brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, including murder, weapons offenses and forgery.
Court in September
Mangione is scheduled to appear before Gregory Carr in Manhattan in September. In a letter sent to Carr on Friday, his lawyers said they were “at this time” withdrawing plans to present evidence that he was in an extreme mental crisis at the time of the alleged killing. Neither Mangione’s legal team nor the Manhattan District Attorney’s office would comment on the filing.
Under New York law, defendants facing murder charges can argue that their behavior was the result of “extreme emotional distress,” a defense that can reduce their criminal liability.
If the jury accepted that argument, it could lead to the murder charges being reduced to manslaughter, a lesser offense that does not carry a life sentence. But legal experts noted that such a defense could be difficult for Mangion, given the allegations that the shooting was carefully planned and that he took steps to avoid arrest afterwards.
During the trial, Carro will determine if there is sufficient evidence to drop the murder charge.
Before his death, Brian Thompson led the insurance division of UnitedHealth Group. He was fatally shot outside the hotel early in the morning while the company was holding an investor conference.
The case attracted widespread attention due to the graphic footage of the shooting and the extensive five-day manhunt for the suspect, making it a major focus of both traditional and social media. Mangione was eventually apprehended in Pennsylvania.
In a separate federal case, Mangione pleaded not guilty in April 2025 to murder, weapons offenses and stalking charges filed by federal prosecutors in Manhattan.
In a surprise ruling issued in January, a judge dismissed the murder and weapons charges on procedural grounds. The decision removed the possibility that Mangione would face the death penalty, although he could still be sentenced to life in prison without parole if convicted on the stalking charge.
Jury selection in the federal case is expected to begin in September, with opening arguments expected to begin in November.
(With agency input)
