Luigi Mangione will not face death penalty over killing of CEO - here’s why

A court has ruled today (30 January) that Luigi Mangione will not face the death penalty, as he stands accused of the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

The billionaire was killed while walking to a midtown Manhattan hotel for his firm's annual investor conference when he was shot from behind by a masked gunman on 4 December 2024.

Police later revealed that the bullets that penetrated 50-year-old Thompson's body had been inscribed with the words, 'delay', 'deny' and 'depose' - all of which mimic a phrase allegedly used by insurance brokers to avoid paying out for claims.

Five days later, Maryland-local Mangione, an Ivy League graduate, was taken in by cops at a McDonald's restaurant in Altoona, Pennsylvania, after which he was charged with the father-of-two's murder.

Thompson was murdered in December 2024 (Alex Kent/Getty Images)

Documents found on his person accused Thompson's health insurance company of 'abusing our country for immense profit', 'because the American public has allowed them to get away with it'.

After insisting 'these parasites had it coming', the writer of the note went on to claim, 'I do apologise for any strife and trauma, but it had to be done'.

Attorney General Pamela Bondi called for Mangione's execution, which she slammed as a 'premeditated, cold-blooded assassination that shocked America'.

Despite this, a federal murder charge against the suspect was dismissed on Friday by US District Judge Margaret Garnett, which means he won't face capital punishment.

Two counts of stalking, meanwhile, that carry a maximum punishment of life in prison, will remain in place.

Mangione will not face capital punishment (Jeff Swensen/Getty Images)

Mangione is also facing nine counts in New York, which include second-degree murder and weapons charges. He has pleaded not guilty.

Jury selection for his 8 September trial is yet to commence. Opening statements will be presented the following month on 13 October.

His lawyers previously tried to argue the officers responsible for arresting him had failed to properly read Mangione his constitutional rights prior to placing him in handcuffs. The pair of police officers were also accused of failing to present a warrant before searching his bag.

As such, his team argued such evidence should be ruled inadmissible - though this plea was subsequently dismissed.