A Manhattan federal judge on Friday ruled that Luigi Mangione will not face the death penalty, dismissing the capital count in his high-profile federal trial and paving the way for a life sentence without the possibility of release.
The decision comes in the case over the December 2024 killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Manhattan, a crime that has gripped New York and sparked nationwide attention.
Death Penalty Foreclosed by Federal Court
In a written ruling issued ahead of a scheduled court hearing, U.S. District Judge Margaret M. Garnett explained that the “chief practical effect” of her decision is to remove the death penalty as a sentencing option. This limits prosecutors from seeking capital punishment against Mangione under federal law.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York is foreclosed from pursuing the death penalty,” Judge Garnett wrote.
The ruling sets the stage for a federal jury trial that could still result in a life sentence without parole. Jury selection is set to begin Sept. 8.
