Luigi Mangione, 28, faces state and federal charges related to the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside a Manhattan hotel on December 4, 2024. [1, 2, 3, 4] Mangione pleaded not guilty to murder as well as federal stalking, weapons, and forgery charges tied to the case. [1, 5, 2]
His state trial is scheduled to begin September 8, 2026, before Justice Gregory Carro in Manhattan. [1, 5, 2, 6] The federal trial, which includes stalking charges, is set for October 13, 2026, with jury selection in September. [2, 6, 3]
Mangione’s legal team initially planned to argue he was under "extreme emotional disturbance" at the time of the killing — a psychiatric defense that, if successful, could reduce a murder charge to first-degree manslaughter with a maximum 25-year sentence instead of life imprisonment. [1, 2, 6, 7] This defense differs from a not guilty by reason of insanity plea, which could lead to treatment in a psychiatric facility rather than prison. [1, 6]
However, on June 18, 2026, his lawyers reversed course and withdrew the psychiatric defense for the state trial. [5, 6] Justice Carro said at a hearing that the court needs “to know the malady and how that triggered emotional disturbance.” [6] Expert legal commentary noted the withdrawal could indicate a strategic effort to avoid federal prosecutors using any emotional disturbance claim against Mangione in their case. [8] Attorney Randolph Rice explained, "if you're standing in a state courtroom arguing that you shot someone because you were under extreme emotional distress, you may be handing federal prosecutors a significant admission that they can point to later."
Prosecutors accuse Mangione of meticulously planning the assassination, keeping journals about the plot, and using a 3D-printed pistol with ideological markings on bullets aimed at insurance practices. [2, 3, 4] Mangione was arrested near Altoona, Pennsylvania, about five days after the killing following a nationwide manhunt. [2, 4]
Federal murder and weapons charges were dismissed on technical grounds in January 2026 by U.S. District Judge Margaret Garnett, removing the death penalty from consideration. [2, 3]
Mangione faces life imprisonment if convicted on either state or federal counts. [1, 2, 3] On June 16, 2026, a scheduled state court hearing was postponed after prosecutors failed to notify jail staff to bring Mangione to court, a procedural error acknowledged by Assistant District Attorney Joel Seidemann: "It's on us. We got the writ signed but we failed to serve it." [4]
The next major event is the start of Mangione’s state trial on September 8, where the court will decide if the psychiatric defense is fully withdrawn and which evidence will be presented.
