By Tiffany Williams –
A Manhattan judge tossed state terrorism charges against Luigi Mangione on Tuesday but left the murder case standing in connection with the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson last December.
Judge Gregory Carro ruled that prosecutors failed to meet the legal bar for terrorism, writing that Mangione’s apparent ideological motive—his anger at perceived inequities in the American health care system—did not prove he intended to intimidate or coerce a civilian population. Carro called the terrorism charges “legally insufficient,” but he confirmed the remaining counts, including second-degree murder, are legally sound.
Mangione, 27, still faces federal charges and additional state charges in Pennsylvania, all of which he has pleaded not guilty to. Defense lawyers had argued the New York charges amounted to double jeopardy, but Carro rejected that claim as premature, noting any potential prejudice to the federal case was speculative.
The December killing shocked the city. Thompson, 50, was shot in midtown Manhattan while on his way to speak at UnitedHealth Group’s investor conference. The masked gunman fled on a bike into Central Park, sparking a dayslong manhunt. Authorities later traced Mangione to a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, where he was apprehended. He was flown back to New York under heavy security, greeted by armed police, Mayor Eric Adams, and a swarm of media cameras.
Prosecutors say Mangione’s writings connect him directly to the slaying. Court filings reveal a diary entry in which someone allegedly mused about “wack[ing] the CEO at the annual parasitic bean-counter convention.” Prosecutors argued that the entry shows premeditation and targeted intent, which Mangione allegedly acted on.
Experts say the ruling to drop terrorism charges is not unusual. Jonathan Hafetz, a Seton Hall law professor, called it “a well-reasoned decision” and cautioned that broad terrorism labels can be politically misused and chill free expression. He added that narrowing the case to murder may actually strengthen the prosecution’s ability to secure a conviction and potentially lock Mangione up for life.
If convicted on the highest remaining count, Mangione faces 25 years to life. The case has already drawn national attention, sparking debates over health care costs, corporate accountability, and high-profile acts of violence. Mangione’s hearings in New York have become flashpoints, drawing protesters decrying the health care industry, and fueling his legal defense fund, which has topped $1.2 million.
Meanwhile, the killing has reverberated in a climate of heightened attention to attacks on public figures, including the recent assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Prosecutors warn that Mangione has encouraged others to commit similar acts, keeping the city and federal authorities on alert.
Mangione’s hearings are set to begin Dec. 1, with a trial date still unannounced.