Judge Dismisses Terrorism Charges Against Luigi Mangione

A New York judge has dismissed terrorism-related charges against Luigi Mangione, the man accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in December 2024. Justice Gregory Carro ruled that the evidence did not meet the requirements under New York State’s terrorism statute, which defines terrorism as violence intended to intimidate a civilian population or influence government policy.

The dismissed counts included first-degree murder in furtherance of an act of terrorism and second-degree murder as a crime of terrorism. According to the court, prosecutors were unable to establish that Mangione’s actions were aimed at instilling widespread fear or coercing government authorities.

Despite the dismissal, Mangione still faces a charge of second-degree murder under state law, along with multiple federal charges including murder, stalking, and firearms offenses. The federal case carries the possibility of the death penalty if he is convicted. Pretrial hearings for the state case are scheduled to begin on December 1, 2025.

Judge Carro noted that while Mangione expressed hostility toward healthcare companies, his alleged motives did not satisfy the statutory definition of terrorism. The ruling means the case will proceed without the terrorism designation, though federal prosecutors continue to pursue their separate charges.

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