Judge dismisses terror-related murder charges against Luigi Mangione

Luigi Mangione, accused of fatally shooting former UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, had two terror-related murder charges dismissed Tuesday by a New York judge, who deemed them "legally insufficient."

Mangione’s defense had argued that New York’s terrorism statutes only apply to attacks targeting multiple civilians, not the killing of a single individual. 

Therefore, the first-degree murder as an act of terrorism and second-degree murder as a crime of terrorism charges can legally be dropped. 

“While the People place great emphasis on defendant’s ‘ideological’ motive, there is no indication in the statute that a murder committed for ideological reasons (in this case, the defendant’s apparent desire to draw attention to what he perceived as inequities or greed within the American health care system), fits within the definition of terrorism without establishing the necessary element of an intent to intimidate or coerce,” Judge Gregory Carro wrote. 

Although second-degree murder carries a lesser penalty than the dismissed charges, Mangione may still be sentenced from 25 years to life in prison. 

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The ruling does not affect the federal murder case, where the Justice Department is seeking the death penalty. 

The 27-year-old appeared in a Manhattan courtroom on Tuesday in a beige jumpsuit with wrists and ankles shackled. 

The Manhattan District Attorney’s office said it respected the court’s decision and will continue pursuing the remaining nine counts, including second-degree murder.

The defense has requested a hearing to suppress evidence and statements collected at the time of Mangione’s arrest, which is scheduled for December 1.

Mangione is accused of killing Thompson outside a Manhattan hotel hosting UnitedHealthcare’s annual investor conference last year.

The shooting triggered a multi-day manhunt, drawing national attention, especially after investigators highlighted bullets marked with words like “delay,” “deny,” and “depose.”

Supporters of Mangione have consistently attended court hearings, often wearing green clothing and carrying signs. 

On Tuesday, several dozen gathered outside the Manhattan courthouse, including a demonstrator in a full green outfit featuring the Luigi character from Nintendo’s Super Mario Bros.

Since his arrest last December, Mangione has raised over USD 1.2 million through online donations, some as small as USD 5.