Luigi Mangione has state terrorism charges dropped DW 09/16/2025

"A New York State judge on Tuesday agreed to dismiss two terrorism-related charges against Luigi Mangione, including one that had accused him of first-degree murder. He will still face trial for murder in the second degree of UnitedHealthcare executive Brian Thompson in December last year. Mangione is charged with shooting and killing Thompson outside of a hotel in Manhattan, where UnitedHealthcare was holding an investor conference."

"Judge Gregory Carro said that while the killing was not an ordinary street crime, New York law does not classify something as an act of terrorism just because it is driven by ideology. "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," Carro said in a written ruling."

A New York judge dismissed two terrorism-related counts against Luigi Mangione, including a first-degree murder allegation, while leaving a second-degree murder charge intact. Mangione is accused of shooting UnitedHealthcare executive Brian Thompson outside a Manhattan hotel during a UnitedHealthcare investor conference in December last year. A second-degree murder conviction carries 15 years to life with parole eligibility after 25 years. Federal authorities have filed separate murder charges for which prosecutors may seek the death penalty. Mangione pleaded not guilty to both state and federal counts. Prosecutors will proceed on nine remaining state counts, and pretrial hearings are scheduled for December 1 while Mangione remains in federal custody.

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