Luigi Mangione Pleads Not Guilty to Federal Charge in Murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO

The arraignment drew a large crowd, with dozens gathering at the courthouse.
Luigi Mangione Pleads Not Guilty to Federal Charge in Murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO
Luigi Mangione appears in court for a hearing in New York on Feb. 21, 2025. Steven Hirsch/New York Post via AP, Pool
Rudy Blalock
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Luigi Mangione, the 26-year-old accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, entered a not guilty plea Friday to a federal murder charge in Manhattan federal court, as prosecutors formally declared their intent to seek the death penalty in the high-profile case.

Mangione, dressed in a mustard-colored jail suit, stood between his attorneys and leaned toward a microphone as U.S. District Judge Margaret Garnett asked if he understood the indictment charging him with the December shooting of Thompson outside a midtown Manhattan hotel. Mangione confirmed his understanding and, when asked for his plea, replied, “not guilty,” before taking his seat.