Judge Drops Terrorism Charges Against Luigi Mangione but Murder Case Moves Forward
“While the defendant was clearly expressing an animus toward UHC, and the health care industry generally, it does not follow that his goal was to ‘intimidate and coerce a civilian population,’ and indeed, there was no evidence presented of such a goal.” – Judge Gregory Carro, ruling on terrorism charges, Sept. 16, 2025
Terrorism Charges Dismissed
A New York judge on Tuesday dismissed terrorism charges against Luigi Mangione in the high-profile killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, but allowed the state’s second-degree murder charges to stand. Judge Gregory Carro, in a written decision, ruled that while Mangione’s alleged actions were motivated by hostility toward the health insurance industry, New York law does not classify that motivation as terrorism. Carro stressed that ideology alone does not equate to “an intent to intimidate or coerce a civilian population.” Prosecutors acknowledged the setback, issuing a statement that they “respect the Court’s decision and will proceed on the remaining nine counts.”
Cult Following and Courtroom Drama
The ruling drew a visible response from Mangione’s supporters, some of whom wore green in reference to the video game character Luigi. A woman entered the courtroom wearing a “FREE LUIGI” T-shirt, while several rows were filled with sympathizers. Outside the courthouse, cheers broke out when word spread that the terrorism counts had been tossed. Mangione, a 27-year-old Ivy League graduate, appeared in beige prison attire, shackled in handcuffs. This was his first appearance in the state case since February.
The Case Against Mangione
Mangione has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder and related charges stemming from the Dec. 4, 2024, shooting of Thompson outside the New York Hilton Midtown. Surveillance video captured a masked gunman firing on Thompson from behind as he arrived for an investor conference. Police later revealed that Mangione’s ammunition was marked with the words “delay,” “deny,” and “depose”—terms often used to describe health insurers’ tactics in avoiding claim payments. He was arrested five days later in Altoona, Pennsylvania, after being spotted at a McDonald’s. Since then, he has been held at a federal detention center in Brooklyn.
Parallel Federal Case and Death Penalty Push
Mangione faces a separate federal prosecution, where U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has authorized the pursuit of the death penalty. Federal prosecutors allege Mangione stalked Thompson and carried out a politically motivated assassination. His lawyers argue that facing both state and federal cases amounts to double jeopardy. Judge Carro rejected that claim for now, calling it premature since neither case has gone to trial. The Manhattan DA’s office maintains the two prosecutions involve different legal theories.
Writings and Motive
Prosecutors say Mangione’s personal writings reveal a fixation on punishing the health insurance industry. In court filings, they cited diary entries praising Unabomber Ted Kaczynski and describing insurance executives as “greedy bastards that had it coming.” In one alleged confession addressed “To the feds,” Mangione wrote that “it had to be done.”
The DA’s office argues these writings underscore his intent to use Thompson’s killing as a symbolic act of rebellion against what he described as a “deadly, greed-fueled health insurance cartel.”
What’s Next for Luigi Mangione
Judge Carro scheduled pretrial hearings for Dec. 1. If convicted of second-degree murder, Mangione faces 15 years to life in prison under New York law, with parole eligibility after 25 years. Meanwhile, the federal case could see prosecutors press for the death penalty in what they describe as “a premeditated, cold-blooded assassination that shocked America.”
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