Paulette Thompson, widow of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, came face to face with Luigi Mangione in a Manhattan courthouse on Friday. Mangione pleaded guilty to federal stalking charges connected to the December 2024 killing. During the hearing, he told the court that he posed as an investor to locate Thompson before the shooting. His sentencing hearing was scheduled for December 18.
Mangione acknowledged that he understood he could receive a maximum sentence of life in prison. He also described preparing a 3-D-printed gun and shooting Thompson outside a Manhattan Hilton hotel on December 4, 2024.
| Article Subheadings | |
|---|---|
| 1) | Widow attends Mangione’s guilty plea hearing |
| 2) | Mangione describes how he located Thompson |
| 3) | Prosecutors outline evidence prepared for trial |
| 4) | Sentencing follows federal guilty plea |
| 5) | Police reject glorification of the killing |
Widow attends Mangione’s guilty plea hearing
Paulette Thompson was seen leaving Manhattan Criminal Court after Mangione entered his plea Friday. The appearance marked the first reported face-to-face encounter between Thompson’s widow and the defendant in the federal case tied to her husband’s death.
Mangione appeared before Judge Margaret Garnett in Manhattan. The proceeding addressed federal stalking charges alleging that he targeted the UnitedHealthcare executive with the intent to kill him. Thompson’s presence placed the family directly in the courtroom as Mangione formally accepted responsibility for the conduct covered by his plea.
Mangione describes how he located Thompson
When invited to address the court, Mangione said he contacted UnitedHealthcare while posing as an investor. He said the call was intended to obtain information about an investor conference where Thompson was scheduled to appear.
“After years of enduring severe pain from a broken back, I learned UnitedHealthcare will hold an investor’s conference.”
Mangione told the judge that he traveled to New York after making those inquiries. He said he used a 3-D printer to make a gun and then shot Thompson on the morning of December 4, 2024. His account placed the preparation, travel and attack within the sequence examined by investigators.
“On the morning of Dec. 4, 2024, I shot Mr. Thompson in Manhattan. I knew what I was doing.”
Prosecutors outline evidence prepared for trial
Federal prosecutors said they planned to present substantial evidence had the case proceeded to trial. That evidence included security footage that appeared to show Mangione arriving in New York by bus and later following Thompson inside the Hilton shortly before the shooting.
Investigators also relied on surveillance video depicting a hooded man approaching Thompson from behind and opening fire outside the hotel. The footage, along with forensic and digital evidence, was expected to form part of the government’s case concerning who carried out the attack, where it occurred and how Thompson was followed.
Sentencing follows federal guilty plea
Judge Garnett asked Mangione whether he understood that the maximum possible sentence was life in prison. Mangione answered, “Yes.” The response confirmed that he understood the seriousness of the federal charges before the court accepted his guilty plea.
The judge scheduled Mangione’s sentencing hearing for December 18. The hearing will determine the federal punishment following the plea. The case remains focused on the stalking allegations and the killing of Thompson in Manhattan.
Police reject glorification of the killing
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch criticized people who support or idolize Mangione after the hearing. She said the killing should not be treated as a political or social cause and rejected portrayals of the defendant as a hero.
“This violence is not a cause. Murder is not a message. And a killer is certainly not a hero.”
Tisch said the department launched a large investigation immediately after Thompson was killed. Detectives reviewed thousands of hours of surveillance footage, followed hundreds of tips and examined extensive forensic and digital evidence to identify and track the suspect.
| No. | Key Point |
|---|---|
| 1 | Paulette Thompson attended Mangione’s federal guilty plea hearing. |
| 2 | Mangione said he posed as an investor to learn about Thompson’s conference. |
| 3 | He admitted shooting Thompson in Manhattan on December 4, 2024. |
| 4 | Sentencing was set for December 18, with a possible maximum of life in prison. |
| 5 | Police emphasized the scale of the investigation and rejected support for Mangione. |
Summary
Mangione’s guilty plea brought him into the courtroom with Paulette Thompson, whose husband was killed outside a Manhattan hotel in December 2024. His statements described the alleged planning and execution of the attack, while prosecutors detailed surveillance and other evidence they had prepared. With sentencing scheduled for December 18, police officials are continuing to condemn efforts to portray the killing as heroic or justified.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Paulette Thompson?
Paulette Thompson is the widow of Brian Thompson, the UnitedHealthcare CEO who was killed in Manhattan on December 4, 2024.
What did Luigi Mangione plead guilty to?
Mangione pleaded guilty to federal stalking charges connected to targeting Thompson with the intent to kill him.
When is Mangione’s sentencing hearing?
Judge Margaret Garnett scheduled Mangione’s sentencing hearing for December 18.
What evidence did prosecutors cite?
Prosecutors said they intended to present surveillance footage, forensic evidence and digital evidence, including video showing the suspect arriving in New York and following Thompson before the shooting.