A federal judge in New York on Friday dismissed federal murder and weapons counts against Luigi Mangione, removing the possibility of a federal death sentence. Judge Margaret M. Garnett found those counts legally incompatible with two federal stalking counts that remain pending. Mangione, 27, had pleaded not guilty in federal court; he also faces separate state charges in Manhattan, where no trial date has been set.
Federal Judge Dismisses Murder and Weapons Counts Against Alleged UnitedHealthcare CEO Killer Luigi Mangione
FILE PHOTO: Luigi Mangione appears in Manhattan Supreme Court for a suppression hearing December 18 2025. Curtis Means/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo
A New York federal judge on Friday dismissed the federal murder and weapons counts against Luigi Mangione, the 27-year-old accused of killing the chief executive of UnitedHealthcare in Midtown Manhattan in 2024. The ruling removes the possibility of a federal death sentence and represents a significant setback for prosecutors.
U.S. District Judge Margaret M. Garnett ruled the murder and weapons counts were legally incompatible with the two federal stalking counts that remain pending against Mangione, meaning the dismissed counts cannot proceed in federal court alongside the stalking charges.
Case Status and Next Steps
Mangione has pleaded not guilty to the remaining federal stalking charges. Judge Garnett had previously scheduled jury selection for the federal case to begin in September.
Separately, Mangione faces state charges in Manhattan, where he has pleaded not guilty to murder, weapons and forgery counts. No trial date has been set in state court.
Public Reaction and Context
The killing drew sharp condemnation from public officials. At the same time, Mangione has attracted attention from some Americans critical of high health-care costs and industry practices, a dynamic that has complicated public reaction to the case.
Note: The federal dismissal affects only the federal indictment; state-level proceedings remain active and could result in separate trials and outcomes.
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