Luigi Mangione will soon be on trial for the death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. There has been speculation on whether he would face the death penalty for his crime.
He was indicted on 11 counts, including first-degree murder and murder as a crime of terrorism. Luigi allegedly shot Brian in Midtown Manhattan on December 4.
Luigi Mangione will not face the death penalty
U.S. District Court Judge Margaret M. Garnett‘s ruled on Friday, January 30, that Luigi will not face the death penalty, according to CNN. This is a big loss for the U.S. Department of Justice, which asked federal prosecutors for the death penalty.
In April 2025, Attorney General Pam Bondi said, “Luigi Mangione’s murder of Brian Thompson — an innocent man and father of two young children — was a premeditated, cold-blooded assassination that shocked America. After careful consideration, I have directed federal prosecutors to seek the death penalty in this case as we carry out President Trump‘s agenda to stop violent crime and Make America Safe Again.”
Karen Friedman Agnifilo, part of Luigi’s defense team, described Pam’s statement as “explicitly and unapologetically political” claiming it violated his constitutional rights.
In September, Luigi’s defense team filed a motion for the judge to dismiss the death penalty. She included what she described as Pam’s “extrajudicial statements.” The defense voiced concern that “the government allowed the grand jury to be prejudiced.”
Along with using a firearm for murder, Luigi faces federal charges of interstate stalking resulting in death, stalking through use of interstate facilities resulting in death and discharging a firearm that was equipped with a silencer in furtherance of a crime of violence.
He also faces 11 charges in another New York state case, but the two most serious counts were dropped due to insufficient evidence. This included first-degree murder in furtherance of an act of terrorism and second-degree murder as a crime of terrorism. In both cases, Luigi pleaded not guilty.
He is being held in the Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center. Today’s hearing may determine the federal case start date. Jury selection begins September 8.
TELL US – SHOULD THE DEATH PENALTY STILL BE ON THE TABLE FOR LUIGI?
