❓WHAT HAPPENED: A judge ruled that Luigi Mangione, accused of murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, will not face the death penalty if convicted on federal charges.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Luigi Mangione, UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, and Judge Margaret Garnett.
📍WHEN & WHERE: The ruling occurred on Friday, January 30, 2026.
🎯IMPACT: Mangione could still face life in prison if convicted, though the death penalty removal is likely to be appealed.
The federal judge presiding over the murder trial of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson ruled on Friday that Luigi Mangione, 27, will not face the death penalty if convicted. U.S. District Court Judge Margaret Garnett dismissed the federal murder charge but maintained a stalking charge that carries a maximum punishment of life in prison. Mangione, 27, has pleaded not guilty to both federal and state charges.
Notably, Judge Garnett’s reasoning in dismissing the federal murder charge revolves around a requirement that the killing was committed during another “crime of violence.” The judge agreed with Mangione’s defense team that the stalking charge did not constitute a violent crime.
While the removal of the death penalty is—for now—a significant win for Mangione, the ruling is likely to be appealed. Meanwhile, Mangione’s legal defense also suffered a considerable setback when Judge Garnett rejected his defense attorneys’ attempt to suppress evidence obtained during the search of his backpack at a Pennsylvania McDonald’s on December 9, 2024. Items recovered included a 3D-printed handgun, a loaded magazine, a notebook, a map, and a “survival kit.” Police testified that such searches are standard procedure during arrests.
The Friday ruling means that jury selection in the federal case against Mangione will now likely begin in October of this year rather than on September 8. State prosecutors in New York are pushing to start their state case against the alleged assassin in early July, though Mangione’s attorneys argue this does not give them enough time to prepare an adequate defense.
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