Judge Tosses Out All Terrorism Charges Against Luigi Mangione

The judge wrote that the prosecution's evidence was "legally insufficient."

By Audra Heinrichs | September 16, 2025 | 4:46pm

Photo: Getty Images News

Judge Tosses Out All Terrorism Charges Against Luigi Mangione

On Tuesday, Luigi Mangione—the 26-year-old accused of killing Brian Thompson, the former CEO of United Healthcare—appeared in court for the first time in five months. The 10-minute hearing culminated in Judge Gregory Carro throwing out the two most severe terrorism-related charges.

Prosecutors charged Mangione with first-degree murder (in furtherance of an act of terrorism) and murder in the second degree as a crime of terrorism, arguing that his alleged actions in midtown Manhattan on December 4, 2024, intimidated or coerced employees of UnitedHealthcare. But Carro wrote that their evidence was “legally insufficient” to charge Mangione with terrorism, since New York state defines terrorism as an act against multiple civilians, not a single individual. However, Mangione still remains eligible for the death penalty in his federal trial.

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“While the defendant was clearly expressing an animus toward UHC, and the health care industry generally, it does not follow that his goal was to ‘intimidate and coerce a civilian population’ and indeed, there was no evidence presented of such a goal,” Carro wrote on Tuesday.

The remaining state charges include: another second-degree murder charge, two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, four counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree, one count of criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree, and one count of criminal possession of a forged instrument in the second degree. Mangione has continued to plead not guilty to all charges, including the four additional federal charges: murder through the use of a firearm, firearms offense and two counts of stalking.

“We respect the Court’s decision and will proceed on the remaining nine counts, including Murder in the Second Degree,” the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office said in a statement.

Mangione’s attorneys not only wanted the state charges dropped, but also for evidence collected during his December 2024 arrest (a 9mm handgun and a notebook in which authorities claim Mangione wrote that he wanted to “wack” an insurance executive) to be barred from the trial. Meanwhile, the prosecution urged Carro to force the defense to state whether they’ll pursue an insanity plea, or include any psychiatric evidence of any mental disease Mangione might have.

As is the case for all of his previous court appearances, legions of Mangione’s supporters showed up to Manhattan Criminal Court. Scores of young women wearing T-shirts emblazoned with “Free Luigi” and “I Love Italian Boys” were gathered outside. Others waved flags that read “Healthcare Is A Human Right” and “Luigi Before Parasites.” Their support has remained so steadfast, in fact, that Mangione’s attorneys had no choice but to ask fans not to send more than five photographs at a time to their client in prison this February.

While a trial date has not yet been set, the next hearing will take place on Dec. 1.

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