Judge Rules Out Death Penalty for Alleged Killer of UnitedHealthcare CEO
NEW YORK (AP) — In a significant legal development, federal prosecutors were barred from pursuing the death penalty against Luigi Mangione, accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. This decision, delivered by Judge Margaret Garnett on Friday, thwarted the Trump administration’s efforts to seek execution for what it described as a “premeditated, cold-blooded assassination that shocked America.”
The ruling came after Garnett dismissed a federal murder charge deemed technically flawed, a charge that had been a prerequisite for seeking capital punishment. In her decision, Garnett stated the dismissal was to “foreclose the death penalty as an available punishment to be considered by the jury” in Mangione’s potential conviction.
While a gun charge was also dismissed, stalking charges against Mangione remain. These carry a potential life sentence, but do not qualify as a “crime of violence” under legal precedents, thus failing to support a death penalty case, according to Garnett’s interpretation.
In a partial victory for the prosecution, Garnett allowed evidence from Mangione’s arrest to be used in court. This includes a 9mm handgun and a notebook allegedly detailing his plans to “wack” an insurance executive. Mangione’s defense argued the search was unlawful due to the absence of a warrant at the time.
The judge granted prosecutors 30 days to decide on appealing the death penalty decision. The U.S. attorney’s office in Manhattan, overseeing the federal proceedings, declined to comment.
Garnett noted the complexity of her ruling, acknowledging it could appear “tortured and strange” but emphasized her commitment to applying Supreme Court directives. “The law must be the Court’s only concern,” she stated.
Mangione, 27, appeared composed during the hearing, which followed Garnett’s written ruling. Prosecutors indicated readiness to proceed to trial, retaining the option to appeal.
Karen Friedman Agnifilo, Mangione’s attorney, expressed relief over the “incredible decision” outside the courtroom.
Jury selection for the federal trial is scheduled for September 8, with opening statements and testimonies expected to begin on October 13. The trial date for the state case remains undecided, though the Manhattan district attorney’s office has proposed a July 1 start.
Garnett clarified that the federal case would proceed independently, though it might be paused if the death penalty ruling is appealed.
Brian Thompson was tragically killed on December 4, 2024, while en route to a UnitedHealth Group conference in Manhattan. Surveillance footage captured a masked assailant shooting him, with ammunition marked by phrases critics say insurers use to avoid claim payments.
Mangione, hailing from a wealthy Maryland family and an Ivy League graduate, was apprehended days after the incident in Altoona, Pennsylvania.
This case marked the inaugural attempt by the Justice Department to pursue the death penalty in President Donald Trump’s second term, following his campaign pledge to reinstate federal executions after a pause during President Joe Biden’s administration.
Appointed by Biden, Judge Garnett made her ruling after considering arguments earlier this month. Mangione’s defense had argued that Attorney General Pam Bondi’s push for capital punishment was politically motivated, breaching Justice Department protocols.
Prosecutors countered that the charges were lawful and that Bondi’s public remarks did not bias the jury, as intense pretrial media coverage does not automatically constitute a constitutional violation. They proposed thorough juror vetting to ensure fairness in the trial process.
