The fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare executive Brian Thompson in December 2024 quickly evolved from a high-profile murder investigation into one of the most closely watched criminal cases in the United States. The arrest of 26-year-old Luigi Mangione, the federal and state charges against him, and the intense public attention surrounding the case have kept it in the spotlight for months. Here's a look at how the case unfolded and where it stands now.
What happened to Brian Thompson
On December 4, 2024, Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare's insurance unit, was fatally shot outside a Midtown Manhattan hotel.
According to New York City police officials the shooting appeared to be a targeted attack by a gunman lying in wait. The shooting occurred around 6.45 a.m. ET outside the Hilton on Sixth Avenue, where the company's annual investor conference was about to take place.
Thompson was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Police said the gunman remained at large.
The young suspect
On December 5, New York City police were searching for the man who killed Thompson.
The suspect, wearing a mask and carrying a gray backpack, fled on foot before mounting an electric bike and riding into Central Park, police said.
Five days later, on December 9, New York City Police announced that 26-year-old Luigi Mangione had been arrested for the killing of Thompson.
Surrenders at court
On December 19, Mangione waived his right to extradition proceedings in a Pennsylvania court and consented to surrender to New York authorities
He arrived at a Pennsylvania court in the morning for a hearing on a request by New York to extradite him to Manhattan to face murder charges. And consented to surrender to the New York police officers who also attended the short hearing.
He departed the courthouse in a New York police vehicle and was expected in Manhattan later that day. Mangione later arrived in New York City via a New York Police Department (NYPD) helicopter.
The Charges
Federal prosecutors in Manhattan charged Mangione with the federal crime of murder using a firearm, two charges of stalking and an additional firearms offense, according to a criminal complaint.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said that his office was "in conversations with our law enforcement counterparts" on the case of Mangione.
Mangione was then charged with federal murder and stalking crimes in a Manhattan courtroom, alongside state murder and terrorism charges previously announced by New York prosecutors.
Mangione pleaded not guilty on December 23 to New York state murder charges that brand him a terrorist.
The case becomes a public spectacle
Dozens of Mangione supporters gathered outside the courthouse on February 21, 2025, and behind police barricades in the hall outside the courtroom Mangione's legal team told a judge that their client was illegally searched during his arrest.
The team said they wanted that evidence excluded from his trial on state murder and terrorism charges.
Mangione pleaded not guilty on April 25 to federal charges of gunning down health insurance executive Thompson, a day after prosecutors formally stated their intent to seek the death penalty.
On September 16, his supporters cheered as terrorism counts were dropped.
A Major blow to prosecutors
On January 30, 2026, a New York federal judge dismissed the murder and weapons charges against Mangione — a major blow to prosecutors. That meant Mangione no longer faces a possible death penalty if convicted.
A state court judge on May 18 granted Mangione’s bid to prevent evidence found in his backpack during his arrest from being admitted at his murder trial over the early-morning assassination of a health insurance executive in Manhattan.
Mangione pleaded not guilty in state court to all charges. His trial was set to begin on September 8, expected to last six weeks.
What happens next
Mangione admitted in court on August 14 to fatally shooting Thompson and pleaded guilty to two federal charges of stalking the executive with the intent to kill him.
The guilty plea would avert a federal trial in the closely watched case over the killing of the UnitedHealthcare CEO.
It could also allow him to seek dismissal of state murder charges and avoid an upcoming trial in that case.
(This story is compiled by Mariya Babu)
